| The humble harmonica has to be one of the | | | | in time that I fell in love with, and made a |
| easiest musical instruments to master in the | | | | decision to, learn to play the harmonica. |
| world. Okay, so there are some great Folk and | | | | |
| Blues musicians out there that can make this | | | | It was some weeks later before I found a |
| little mouth piece talk their language, but | | | | place to purchase one. Funnily enough, |
| what I'm talking about here is for Joe | | | | there's not a lot of call for music stores in |
| Average, without a musical bone in his body, | | | | the foot hills of the Himalayas or along the |
| being able to knock out a melody in no time | | | | swamps of India, so it wasn't until I'd |
| at all. What other instrument allows you to | | | | landed in Georgetown, on the Malaysian island |
| do that? You really can learn how to play the | | | | of Penang, that I found a rickety little shop |
| harmonica in a matter of days or weeks, | | | | that had harmonicas on sale for a mere two |
| depending on your commitment. | | | | dollars a piece. I could hardly wait to get |
| | | | started, and so rushed off excitedly to my |
| Most instruments require you get a beginners | | | | grimy guest house where I began to lean to |
| book, or if you're really enthusiastic, a | | | | play my new toy. |
| private tutor or perhaps joining a local | | | | |
| class so that you can get a head start with | | | | It proved to be a great companion on my |
| your strumming, blowing, picking, or beating, | | | | travels. The first tune I knocked out was |
| depending what it is you're trying to master. | | | | the Christmas carol 'Silent Night'. Well it |
| But with the pocked sized mouth organ, | | | | was December! But soon afterwards I was |
| there's no such learning curve. Just pick one | | | | doing impressive little instrumentals and |
| up from your local music store and learn to | | | | jamming sessions with fellow travelers who |
| play the harmonica your way. | | | | were trudging the circuit with bulky guitars |
| | | | strapped to their backs. |
| I remember the time I purchased my first ever | | | | |
| harmonica. It was back in the 1980's when I | | | | Whether you're planning a long trip, or just |
| was bumming my way around the world, that I | | | | looking for something to do outside the |
| struck a fascination with the sounds and | | | | virtual world of a computer, then why not |
| notes that could be plucked from this musical | | | | learn to play the harmonica? It'll give you |
| mouthpiece. It all began when I came across | | | | heaps of fun without the frustration that |
| this Danish couple who were journeying | | | | comes with more serious musical instruments. |
| through Western Asia. | | | | Hey, who knows where it could lead you Mr. |
| | | | Dylan! |
| Tucked away in their backpacks were an Irish | | | | |
| tin whistle and a tuppeny ha'penny harmonica. | | | | If you really get a knack for the hand harp, |
| After dinner one evening, on the outskirts | | | | you could then progress onto to say Chicago |
| of the Chitwan jungle of Nepal, they began to | | | | Blues, Country, Bluegrass, Folk, or even some |
| entertain a small group of us happy hippies | | | | unique style of your own. Good luck! |
| with their music. It was at this exact moment | | | | |