just bought 1 today in the key of c in love with it my next harp is going to be a blues harp in Bb. Ben do you know and blues festivals or places where they jam some blues in the north east of England co. Durham Newcastle area i understand you may not know but it's worth a shot : )
i have a big river harp in G and my 5 hole blow is a bit muffled and a bit and less clear than it should be. do you know what the problem might be? Thanks in advance
big THUMB UP for your videos man, I really appreciated them. Just a question, is that model as easy to bend as just "out of the box" or am I supposed to use it during some time before trying to bend notes like this? thanks from Italy
Thanks Paul. have a high G and F#/Gb coming in. wanted to here how it sounds. i'm an expert player, looking for something good for the price. harps are more expensive than they've been allowed in the past haven't they? any way, sounds great, looks great. can't wait to play.
@aishdamn Well 'Harp' is the slang name, 'harmonica' is the usual name for the instrument, and diatonic means it contains only the notes of the major scale.
Hohner is hohner and that's it. When I was a little kid I destroy daddy old Hohner harmonica which is very similar to Hohner Koch Chromatic Harp. A few years ago I bought him SIlvestar and no matter what it has plastic body, It sounds great. :)
I just started playing the harmonica, and hearing people complain about their prices sounds just funny to me. I usually play the drums and compared to those beasts the harmonicas are heavenly cheap. I wouldn't even get the chair I'm sitting on for the money I pay for a Marine Band Deluxe ;)
Hello! I'm a beginner harmonica player. I can't decide whether to buy Special 20 or Big river harp. Both of these harps seem to be good but i think big river sounds better. What would you suggest? Which one is easier to bend? Thank you very much in advance!
Hi, I just bought the Big River today, I compared it to the Special 20. The Special is pretty good and needs less air, but I prefered the price and looks of the Big River Harp. Though the Special 20 is a good beginner harp (meaning it is easy to play and sounds good)
So overall do you like this harmonica? It looks great sounds great when you play it but do you personally like it? I like your videos alot and I'm wondering of all the harmonica's you play and review do you have a favorite? Very helpful videos! Thanks!
As someone who has never played a harp before, would this one be kind to beginners? I found this one (key of c) on amazon for £16 and I'd like your opinion.
@Thesixthgoon Maybe 9 months is too long to wait for the answer, but anyway. Personally I think that Big River is the best harp for beginners out of all Hohner harmonicas because it's slightly bigger than other Hohner harps, its holes are wider, and it's pretty easy to bend notes on it. I hope this helped.
The Big River Harp seems like a good harp (German made, moderate price), but I resent that model. I was a fan of the German made Old Standbys, and when Hohner turned them into cheap Chinese made toys, I thought it was an insult to the classic 34b and its fans, especially when Hohner then introduced the Big River, which is everything the Old Standby could have and should have been. Just an opinion.
@BluesHarp532 Very fair comments, although the Chinese harps are starting to improve - have a look at my video 'Sonnyboy's Special' and you'll see what I mean. Ben
Thanks for the video. I would suggest people look to estate sales and antique stores to find amazing bargains. I have found some incredible (almost new) harmonicas this way. So often they are just considered toys by the bidders and store owners.
Big Rivers are good harmonicas, certainly a decent for beginnesr. But I do regard it as inferior to the Special 20 and/or the Golden Melody. Compared to a Special 20, the BR's tone is a little rougher. A Big River doesnt have that sharp, clean, crack that the Special 20 has. I dislike Honer harmonicas that have the metal rail along the holes. Marine Bands have that, as do Blues Harps and Pro Harps. So does the Big River. Use a BR as your "beater" harp, but perform with SP20 or Golden M
How does the bendability of this harp compare to the special 20? I'm a sort of beginner and I can eaily bend on sp 20 but I wanna try these. So how comparable is the bendability to this and the sp 20?? Thx
@MakingVideosIsFun I think big rivers sound good, some take a lot of air to blow (maybe not as consistent manufacturing? just a guess) and are a little tougher to bend until broken in. Special 20's are great beginner to pro harps, and if I was recommending to a beginner who had the dough, would say spend the extra 10 bucks or so. Someone mentioned Suzuki, they play excellent and bend real easy, and are quite a bit cheeper ... though I kind of like the sound of a wood comb, and not plastic.
Got hooked on Big Rivers about two years ago, and I play them almost exclusively in my shows. You're right. They're good work horse reed harps. -- Shaun -- KelticDead Music
WOW .... you play realy well ... i ges im going to buy one for me and for a friend of mine XD ... i would realy like to learn to play that thing XDD...
Hi Ben. Great videos. I do have a question, though. What characteristics would you say distinguish the Big River from a Marine Band? Much thanks!
theschoolofmusic 12 hours ago
just bought 1 today in the key of c in love with it my next harp is going to be a blues harp in Bb. Ben do you know and blues festivals or places where they jam some blues in the north east of England co. Durham Newcastle area i understand you may not know but it's worth a shot : )
crabcore44 1 week ago
@crabcore44 Probably best to google it, I don't know any personally - or check with the NHL - they know everything to do with harmonica!
benhewlettuk 1 week ago
What is the name of the Bach Tune?
Graemebomac 1 week ago
i have a big river harp in G and my 5 hole blow is a bit muffled and a bit and less clear than it should be. do you know what the problem might be? Thanks in advance
MrCortin13 1 month ago
Thank you.
This Hohner is one of my favourites to buy. I'm a beginner and I just got a cheap harp which is terrible :-(
Are there other harps which are better for beginners?
JohnnyBazooka 4 months ago
@JohnnyBazooka Sure, I recommend the Sonnyboy's Special from SonnyboysMusicStore dot co dot uk.
benhewlettuk 3 months ago
@benhewlettuk
Thanks, I already bought 2 harps. Hohner Pro Harp MS and Sydel Session. Both are great compared to the china-harp ;-)
JohnnyBazooka 3 months ago
thanks sir!!
anyway which one do you prefer, Big River Vs Blues Bender?
nobunagahehe 4 months ago
@nobunagahehe Both good harps, probably go for the Blues Bender or the Sonnyboy Special even better.
benhewlettuk 4 months ago
I just bought one then found your video, sounds amazing! :D
dondons1987 5 months ago
Which song did played on big river?
felipebaratafelipe 6 months ago
@felipebaratafelipe Just improvising on the blues Felipe, with Bach's Jesu Joy thrown in at the end.
benhewlettuk 5 months ago
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Hi, can you tell the name of the song that you play in big river?
felipebaratafelipe 6 months ago
big THUMB UP for your videos man, I really appreciated them. Just a question, is that model as easy to bend as just "out of the box" or am I supposed to use it during some time before trying to bend notes like this? thanks from Italy
toagne85 6 months ago
@toagne85 Yes, should work straight away, but go easy to start with.
benhewlettuk 6 months ago
ACE!
Just ordered this model. Thought it was apt as I will be moving only a 5 minute walk from the Mighty Mississippi river soon. ;-)
Looking forward to viewing the tutorials and seeing what i can do with the instrument.
JustTheGman 7 months ago
suzuki manji.
ilmanmuutajamuutilma 7 months ago
Thanks Paul. have a high G and F#/Gb coming in. wanted to here how it sounds. i'm an expert player, looking for something good for the price. harps are more expensive than they've been allowed in the past haven't they? any way, sounds great, looks great. can't wait to play.
punk25ist 7 months ago
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what is the differences between harp harmonica and diatonic harmonica ?
aishdamn 9 months ago
hye what is differences between harp harmonica and diatonic harmonica . i'm new to it
aishdamn 9 months ago
@aishdamn Well 'Harp' is the slang name, 'harmonica' is the usual name for the instrument, and diatonic means it contains only the notes of the major scale.
benhewlettuk 8 months ago
@benhewlettuk "diatonic" is referred to a generic diatonic scale, wich isn't actually a major one. I've understood the need of simplyfying though ;)
toagne85 6 months ago
Hohner is hohner and that's it. When I was a little kid I destroy daddy old Hohner harmonica which is very similar to Hohner Koch Chromatic Harp. A few years ago I bought him SIlvestar and no matter what it has plastic body, It sounds great. :)
dbbification 10 months ago
I just started playing the harmonica, and hearing people complain about their prices sounds just funny to me. I usually play the drums and compared to those beasts the harmonicas are heavenly cheap. I wouldn't even get the chair I'm sitting on for the money I pay for a Marine Band Deluxe ;)
LaughingOutKraut 1 year ago
Hello! I'm a beginner harmonica player. I can't decide whether to buy Special 20 or Big river harp. Both of these harps seem to be good but i think big river sounds better. What would you suggest? Which one is easier to bend? Thank you very much in advance!
Samgold1993 1 year ago
@Samgold1993
Hi, I just bought the Big River today, I compared it to the Special 20. The Special is pretty good and needs less air, but I prefered the price and looks of the Big River Harp. Though the Special 20 is a good beginner harp (meaning it is easy to play and sounds good)
MultiParasite 1 year ago
So overall do you like this harmonica? It looks great sounds great when you play it but do you personally like it? I like your videos alot and I'm wondering of all the harmonica's you play and review do you have a favorite? Very helpful videos! Thanks!
MrNeilpeartfan 1 year ago
As someone who has never played a harp before, would this one be kind to beginners? I found this one (key of c) on amazon for £16 and I'd like your opinion.
Thesixthgoon 1 year ago 4
@Thesixthgoon Maybe 9 months is too long to wait for the answer, but anyway. Personally I think that Big River is the best harp for beginners out of all Hohner harmonicas because it's slightly bigger than other Hohner harps, its holes are wider, and it's pretty easy to bend notes on it. I hope this helped.
gronki1 5 months ago
hey man you really did great.maybe you got some tipps for me cauze i been playin' for two month a big river in G hohner (of course)
wuold be glad to her from you and thanks
TheBalvis 1 year ago
My uncle, gave me one for my Birthday. They're actually very good harmonicas.
GrendelBoglin 1 year ago
The Big River Harp seems like a good harp (German made, moderate price), but I resent that model. I was a fan of the German made Old Standbys, and when Hohner turned them into cheap Chinese made toys, I thought it was an insult to the classic 34b and its fans, especially when Hohner then introduced the Big River, which is everything the Old Standby could have and should have been. Just an opinion.
BluesHarp532 1 year ago
@BluesHarp532 Very fair comments, although the Chinese harps are starting to improve - have a look at my video 'Sonnyboy's Special' and you'll see what I mean. Ben
benhewlettuk 1 year ago
@benhewlettuk - Actually, the Japanese harps (Suzuki) are giving Hohner a scare. Better quality, IMHO.
evilunixuser1 1 year ago
Thanks for the video. I would suggest people look to estate sales and antique stores to find amazing bargains. I have found some incredible (almost new) harmonicas this way. So often they are just considered toys by the bidders and store owners.
motstraumen 1 year ago
Big Rivers are good harmonicas, certainly a decent for beginnesr. But I do regard it as inferior to the Special 20 and/or the Golden Melody. Compared to a Special 20, the BR's tone is a little rougher. A Big River doesnt have that sharp, clean, crack that the Special 20 has. I dislike Honer harmonicas that have the metal rail along the holes. Marine Bands have that, as do Blues Harps and Pro Harps. So does the Big River. Use a BR as your "beater" harp, but perform with SP20 or Golden M
TalkingPoints1 1 year ago
How does the bendability of this harp compare to the special 20? I'm a sort of beginner and I can eaily bend on sp 20 but I wanna try these. So how comparable is the bendability to this and the sp 20?? Thx
MakingVideosIsFun 1 year ago
@MakingVideosIsFun I think big rivers sound good, some take a lot of air to blow (maybe not as consistent manufacturing? just a guess) and are a little tougher to bend until broken in. Special 20's are great beginner to pro harps, and if I was recommending to a beginner who had the dough, would say spend the extra 10 bucks or so. Someone mentioned Suzuki, they play excellent and bend real easy, and are quite a bit cheeper ... though I kind of like the sound of a wood comb, and not plastic.
bennyblanko3 1 year ago
Please can someone tell me that she is tone ??
gustavoff4 1 year ago
So how do you compare the big river to a special 20. Which one is better?
drfrancov 1 year ago
That's is my lady...
We started just a few weeks ago... but we are in love.
Kiron12 2 years ago
Got hooked on Big Rivers about two years ago, and I play them almost exclusively in my shows. You're right. They're good work horse reed harps. -- Shaun -- KelticDead Music
KelticDead 2 years ago
I love the big river harp
obitobi100 2 years ago
great harmonica playin dude! i love this harmonica, ive just gotta keep practicin!
folkjimmy 2 years ago
WOW .... you play realy well ... i ges im going to buy one for me and for a friend of mine XD ... i would realy like to learn to play that thing XDD...
Rocksongutiarplayer 2 years ago
Most excellent demo--just brilliant!
yinyangthang 2 years ago
Tabs for 2:04 - 2:18 please. Amazing
KendrickMcMurphy 2 years ago 8
I just bought the Big River Harmonica. Can you forward a link to me where i can find some tabs to popular songs.
KendrickMcMurphy 2 years ago
Please tell me acords of that,your,harmonicas?
foghatzapox 2 years ago