The Great Harmonica Crisis

It all started innocently enough. If you've read this blog more than once, then you may have picked up on my desire to play harmonica like Paul Butterfield or Rod Piazza. I did in fact play blues harp for the Phoenix Blues Band's brief rise and fall during one memorable Martha's Vineyard summer (1968? I think). My virtuosity consisted of playing any note that sounded vaguely appropriate as long as possible before risking the chance of switching to one that was obviously flat, and I destroyed quite a few Hohner Marine Bands. Since America doesn't seem to want me for anything serious right now, I thought I'd take it up again - who knows, maybe add a tin cup and a dancing monkey and viola! - head for the nearest street corner and show the recession who's boss. Consequently, I headed for a music store that I've driven past for years, walked inside and asked if they had any harmonicas.


You would have thought I asked the guy to donate a kidney. He immediately launched into a major lecture that incorporated floods and (I think) political unrest in Thailand , which meant that the reed farms had been flooded so that the supply of reeds from Southeast Asia had dried up, so that if I wanted a harmonica, it was AT LEAST a three week wait unless there was a coup in Bangkok - and not only that, but the new harmonica would set me back thirty five bucks. As I pondered the discovery that component parts for harmonicas are actually imported and subject to the vagaries of the global marketplace like most other products, I realized how naive I was, having not bought a Hohner since the 1960s and somehow being simple-minded enough to think the price was still five bucks. After more debate over the price and the delay, I beat a hasty retreat , surprised that I was shut out of the harmonica industry.

Back home, I realized I couldn't give up that easily. Promises had been made, expectations had been raised - failure was not an option. Fortunately, in a charitable attempt to encourage my explorations on the mouth harp, "Shade" Melton provided me with a G, an A and an E. Thus fortified, I took the major step of actually spending my own money on one of those "learn at home" programs which, for only $19.99 ,promises to transform the average person into a world class player in 10 east lessons. I eagerly ripped open the CD when it arrived, grabbed my mouth harps, and proceeded to try and play along, until I realized that every tune in the lesson used a C harp. I began to understand why everything sounded off key.

My new career as a mouth harp master is at a crossroads. Do I ignore the recent political unrest and fly to Bangkok for my own supply of reeds, or continue to practice (and sound wretched) until I stumble upon a C? Only time and my own desire to actually learn how to do something musical will tell the final tale. Meanwhile, hang on to your harmonicas - you never can tell if there's going to be another coup attempt in Thailand.