Friday, October 3, 2008
Friday, September 5, 2008
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Thursday, July 10, 2008
What Harmonica for a Child?
If a child wanted a harmonica, what type of harmonica do I suggest? I suggest a diatonic. A diatonic harmonica has only 10 holes. Each hole is numbered (from 1 to 10). This makes it easy for a child to learn to play. Each hole makes two different suond. Blow and draw (suck) in a same hole make diffenet sound. For example, in a C key harmonica, blow hole number 4 produces a C note. Draw in the same hole produces a D note.
A metal plate diatonic harmonica might hurt a child's lips. I would recommend a plastic covered diatonic harmonica. Can these toy harmonicas make music? Yes, some can. Don't buy a flimsy toy harmonica. Buy a harmonica that uses a little air and has a nice tonal range.
I bought this harmonica from a major toy store chain for my son. It is made in China.
Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
The tab for Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
3B 3B 5B 5B 5D 5D 5B
Twinkle Twinkle little star
4D 4D 4B 4B 3D 3D 3B
How I wonder what you are
5B 5B 4D 4D 4B 4B 3D
Up above the sky so high
5B 5B 4D 4D 4B 4B 3D
Like a diamond in the sky
3B 3B 5B 5B 5D 5D 5B
Twinkle Twinkle little star
4D 4D 4B 4B 3D 3D 3B
How I wonder what you are
Oh! Susannah
4B 4D 5B 6B 6B 6D 6B 5B
Well I came from Alabama
4B 4D 5B 5B 4D 4B 4D
with a banjo on my knee
4B 4D 5B 6B 6B 6D 6B 5B
I'm going to Louisiana and
4B 4D 5B 5B 4D 4B 4D
my true love for to see
4B 4D 5B 6B 6B 6D 6B 5B
It rained all night the day I left
4B 4D 5B 5B 4D 4B 4D
the weather it was dry
4B 4D 5B 6B 6B 6D 6B 5B
The sun was so hot I froze to death
4B 4D 5B 5B 4D 4B 4D
Susannah don't you cry
5D 5D 6D 6D
Oh Susannah
6D 6B 6B 5B 4B 4D
don't you cry for me
4B 4D 5B 6B 6B 6D 6B 5B 4B
I came from Alabama
4D 5B 5B 4D 4D 4B
with a banjo on my knee
Oh My Darling Clementine
Malay Folk Song, Jauh Kita Merantau
A metal plate diatonic harmonica might hurt a child's lips. I would recommend a plastic covered diatonic harmonica. Can these toy harmonicas make music? Yes, some can. Don't buy a flimsy toy harmonica. Buy a harmonica that uses a little air and has a nice tonal range.
I bought this harmonica from a major toy store chain for my son. It is made in China.
Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
The tab for Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
3B 3B 5B 5B 5D 5D 5B
Twinkle Twinkle little star
4D 4D 4B 4B 3D 3D 3B
How I wonder what you are
5B 5B 4D 4D 4B 4B 3D
Up above the sky so high
5B 5B 4D 4D 4B 4B 3D
Like a diamond in the sky
3B 3B 5B 5B 5D 5D 5B
Twinkle Twinkle little star
4D 4D 4B 4B 3D 3D 3B
How I wonder what you are
Oh! Susannah
4B 4D 5B 6B 6B 6D 6B 5B
Well I came from Alabama
4B 4D 5B 5B 4D 4B 4D
with a banjo on my knee
4B 4D 5B 6B 6B 6D 6B 5B
I'm going to Louisiana and
4B 4D 5B 5B 4D 4B 4D
my true love for to see
4B 4D 5B 6B 6B 6D 6B 5B
It rained all night the day I left
4B 4D 5B 5B 4D 4B 4D
the weather it was dry
4B 4D 5B 6B 6B 6D 6B 5B
The sun was so hot I froze to death
4B 4D 5B 5B 4D 4B 4D
Susannah don't you cry
5D 5D 6D 6D
Oh Susannah
6D 6B 6B 5B 4B 4D
don't you cry for me
4B 4D 5B 6B 6B 6D 6B 5B 4B
I came from Alabama
4D 5B 5B 4D 4D 4B
with a banjo on my knee
Oh My Darling Clementine
Malay Folk Song, Jauh Kita Merantau
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Sua sue kemuning
A genie in P Ramlee's classic movie requested Do Re Mi (Played by P Ramlee, AR Tompel and Ibrahim Din)requested the group to play this song (Sua Sue Kemuning). Ibrahim Din was seen playing a harmonica (which he called a bangsi, local name for harmonica).
Monday, May 19, 2008
Suriram
This is a Malay folk song. I played this song using Suzuki OverDrive diatonic key C harmonica.
Ulit Mayang
Ulit mayang is a Malay folk song. In the old days, the shaman used to sing this song to call on angels to help sick patients. I played this song using a Suzuki OverDrive Diatonic key C harmonica.
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Oh Bladi Oh Blada
Oh Bladi Oh Blada is a song popularised by the Beatles. I played this song using a Hohner Double Puck harmonica.
Monday, May 12, 2008
Harmonica in any other names is still a harmonica
Some call it armonica...
Others call it mouth organ...
The smaller ones are called puck...
The larger ones are called bass harmonica...
Whatever the size is, whatever the name is,
an armonica is still a harmonica
a mouth organ is still a harmonica...
Others call it mouth organ...
The smaller ones are called puck...
The larger ones are called bass harmonica...
Whatever the size is, whatever the name is,
an armonica is still a harmonica
a mouth organ is still a harmonica...
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
What's Good About Harmonica Players
What's good about harmonica players?
They never give up. They practice, practice and practice....
Until their lips sore.
They never give up. They practice, practice and practice....
Until their lips sore.
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Loveless Love
Loveless Love was popularised by Louis Armstrong duet with Velma Middleton. I played this song using Hohner Silver Star key A.
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Maafkan daku kerana mencintaimu
This song was popularised by Dewi Yull back in the 80s. It means "forgive me for loving you". I played this song using Hohner Echo Celeste Key C Tremolo Harmonica.
Thursday, April 17, 2008
What is a Tremolo Tuned Harmonica?
A tremolo tuned harmonica has holes divided into upper and lower cells. Each set of cells contains a reed tuned to a same note, with one tuned slightly higher than the other. Both reeds are either blow or draw. When played, the slight diffrence in tuning creates a vibrating tremolo effect.
A tremolo harmonica.
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Harmonicas are for all
Youngs and olds....
A baby playing the harmonica.
Frank at 90 still going strong...
Beauties and beasts...
Candice Jarret playing a guitar and the harmonica.
A baby elephant playing the harmonica.
A baby playing the harmonica.
Frank at 90 still going strong...
Beauties and beasts...
Candice Jarret playing a guitar and the harmonica.
A baby elephant playing the harmonica.
Why Play Harmonica?
Why not? There are hundreds of reasons why people play the harmonica. Here are my reasons.
It is small and easily fit into my pocket. I love to go outing and hiking. When I feel like playing one, I just reach my pocket and there it is. Try carry your piano around....
It is inexpensive. I own 60+ harmonicas. The cheapest harmonica I bought is a diatonic harmonica. It cost me MYR2.50, that's less than a dollar.
It is versatile. I can play oldies joget, blues, nasyid, qosidah, dang dut, keronchong, country, jazz, folk, anything.... even dikir barat.
It's a great ice-breaker. I made many new friends who also love to play the harmonica, or just enjoy listening to people playing the instrument. The harmonica is an expressive instrument. I can express my emotion through the harmonica.
I don't need the whole street to play one. Idon't need an orchestra to play the harmonica. I can play alone.
What's your reason not playing one?
It is small and easily fit into my pocket. I love to go outing and hiking. When I feel like playing one, I just reach my pocket and there it is. Try carry your piano around....
It is inexpensive. I own 60+ harmonicas. The cheapest harmonica I bought is a diatonic harmonica. It cost me MYR2.50, that's less than a dollar.
It is versatile. I can play oldies joget, blues, nasyid, qosidah, dang dut, keronchong, country, jazz, folk, anything.... even dikir barat.
It's a great ice-breaker. I made many new friends who also love to play the harmonica, or just enjoy listening to people playing the instrument. The harmonica is an expressive instrument. I can express my emotion through the harmonica.
I don't need the whole street to play one. Idon't need an orchestra to play the harmonica. I can play alone.
What's your reason not playing one?
Friday, March 28, 2008
Indung Indung
Indung indung kepala lindung
Hujan di udik di sini mendung
Anak siapa pakai kerudung
Mata melirik kaki ke sandung....
This song comes in many versions... even in dang dut...
Hujan di udik di sini mendung
Anak siapa pakai kerudung
Mata melirik kaki ke sandung....
This song comes in many versions... even in dang dut...
Thursday, March 27, 2008
What is a harmonica?
Harmonica a free reed wind instrument. It produces tones or notes when you blow air into or draw air out by placing lips over individual holes (reed chambers) or multiple holes. The wind pressure caused by blowing or drawing air into the reed chambers causes a reed or multiple reeds to vibrate up and down thus creating sound.
A harmonica contains many chambers. Each chamber has multiple, variable-tuned brass, bronze, or stainless steel reeds. The reeds are riveted at one end and loose on the other end. The loose end vibrates and creates sound.
Reeds are pre-tuned to individual tones. Each tone is determined according to the size of reed.
Longer reeds make deep, low sounds and short reeds make higher-pitched sounds. On certain types of harmonica the pre-tuned reed can be changed to another note by blowing or drawing air strongly into the chamber. This technique is called bending.
There are many types of harmonicas; Diatonic, Chromatic, Tremolo, Orchestral, Bass, each used for its own specific sound and can be played in many keys and many types of music.
You may use a harmonica to play blues, Malay joget, American folk music, jazz, classical music, country music, rock and roll, and pop music. The harmonica is also finding its place in more electronically generated music, such as dance and hip-hop, as well as funk and acid jazz.
The harmonica has other nicknames, especially in blues music, including: harp, blues harp, mouth organ (widely used in India), blues mouth organ, and bangsi (in Malay language).
Read more
A harmonica contains many chambers. Each chamber has multiple, variable-tuned brass, bronze, or stainless steel reeds. The reeds are riveted at one end and loose on the other end. The loose end vibrates and creates sound.
Reeds are pre-tuned to individual tones. Each tone is determined according to the size of reed.
Longer reeds make deep, low sounds and short reeds make higher-pitched sounds. On certain types of harmonica the pre-tuned reed can be changed to another note by blowing or drawing air strongly into the chamber. This technique is called bending.
There are many types of harmonicas; Diatonic, Chromatic, Tremolo, Orchestral, Bass, each used for its own specific sound and can be played in many keys and many types of music.
You may use a harmonica to play blues, Malay joget, American folk music, jazz, classical music, country music, rock and roll, and pop music. The harmonica is also finding its place in more electronically generated music, such as dance and hip-hop, as well as funk and acid jazz.
The harmonica has other nicknames, especially in blues music, including: harp, blues harp, mouth organ (widely used in India), blues mouth organ, and bangsi (in Malay language).
Read more
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Anakku Sazali - Harmonica Playing
Another song from a classic malay movie - Anakku Sazali. In this clip I played OceanStar Hohner harmonica.
Malam Bulan Purnama
In this clip, I played Ocean Star Hohner. This song is from a very popular classic malay movie, Pendekar Bujang Lapok.
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Harmonica Player
I've always wanted to create a blog on harmonica playing. I won't wait any longer. Today I am creating it.
My plan is to post 1 video of me playing a harmonica, at least once a month.
For a start, a malay song....
My plan is to post 1 video of me playing a harmonica, at least once a month.
For a start, a malay song....
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