Here is an list of harmonica players and some of their albums that I can recommend listening to. I realize that there are plenty of great players left off this list, but these are some good ones to get you started. Visit HarmonicaStore.com for additional CD and player Recommendations. You can also find many of these linked albums below "keyed" with the complete listing of songs, the keys they are in, and which harmonica to use for playing along at the CDs: Song Keys section at Harmonica Lessons.com.
Dave explains the value of not just learning a scale up and down, but dividing it into smaller "bite-size" chunks, which can then be used as blues riffs.
Here are Dave Gage's sons, Brody and Alex, now called the Brothers Gage, back when they were 10 and 12 year old kids. This video shot in 2015, is an unedited take playing an improvised blues and country based jam and having a bunch of fun.
One plays rhythm beatbox harmonica while the other takes a solo. They are both playing a standard key of "C" 10-hole diatonic in 2nd Position (which is also known as "Crossharp"). They both learned to play harmonica around age 5 and now also sing, play guitar, bass, drums, and keyboards. The key to getting good is consistency. They still practice every single day.
Junior Wells: own band. "Live & Acoustic". with Buddy
Guy
Kim Wilson: with Fabulous Thunderbirds
George "Harmonica" Smith
Charlie Musselwhite
Jimmy Reed: specialized in high end straight harp blues style
(many of his songs are played on a key of "A" harmonica either
in 1st or 2nd position)
Others include: Little Sonny, Carey Bell, Sugar Blue, Jerry
Portnoy (with Clapton on the "From The Cradle" album), Rod Piazza, James
Harman, Harmonica Fats, William Clarke, Tom Ball, Howlin' Wolf,
Lazy Lester, Mark Ford, "Big Mama" Thornton, Annie Raines, Snooky
Pryor, Curtis Salgado, John Hammond, Jr. (neck rack & guitar),
Slim Harpo, Paul deLay.
Willie Dixon: "I Am The Blues" (Big Walter Horton plays on this
recommended album). Various harmonica players including Sugar
Blue accompany this singer/songwriter on his numerous recordings.
Little Walter: "His Best" and other albums & early (until
1952) Muddy Waters band (Muddy Waters Chess Box Set includes
Little Walter, James Cotton, Big Walter Horton and other harmonica
players on most songs.)
Rock-Blues
& Pop:
Norton Buffalo: Loving in the Valley of the Moon; Bonnie
Raitt's song: "Runaway".
Magic Dick: with J. Geils Band. His classic instrumental song,
"Whammer Jammer", is on the "Full House Live" album.
Early Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin: occasional harmonica
Lee Oskar: numerous solo albums including "Lee Oskar"; played harmonica for group War
as well creating his namesaked Lee
Oskar Major Diatonic harmonica.
Robert Plant (Led Zeppelin): "Led Zeppelin I" with "You Shook Me".
Country/Bluegrass:
Charlie McCoy: (father of modern bluegrass & country harmonica
styles) "Harpin' The Blues" with "Basin Street Blues",
and "Greatest Hits" plus plenty of other solo albums.
Norton Buffalo: CD including two albums released in the 70's
on EDSEL Records EDCD 431, session player on other albums, and
duo albums with guitarist Roy Rogers.
Mickey Raphael: with Willie Nelson
Jimmie Fadden: with Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
Fingers Taylor: with Jimmy Buffet and Coral Reefer Band
Terry McMillan: with George Jones, Tanya Tucker, and Lacy J.
Dalton.
Neil Young: most albums have some simple 1st position playing.
The "Harvest" album has the classic "Heart of Gold"
on it (click here for the "Heart
of Gold" tab).
John Sebastian Jr.: Lovin' Spoonful. song: "Night Owl Blues".
Other
full-time and occassional chromatic players include: Larry Adler,
the Harmonicats, Tommy Morgan, John Sebastian Sr, Ron Kalina,
Mike Turk, Robert Bonfiglio, Eddy Manson, Harmonica Rascals,
Little Walter, William Galison, Dave Gage, Cham-Ber Huang, Dave
McKelvy, Bill Barrett, Marcus Milius.
*
Recommended albums by artists are in italics. You can find many of these linked
albums above "keyed" with the complete listing of songs,
the keys they are in, and which harmonica to use for playing along
at the CDs:
Song Keys section at Harmonica Lessons.com.
Dave explains the value of not just learning a scale up and down, but dividing it into smaller "bite-size" chunks, which can then be used as blues riffs.
