'I Just Can't Do It!' (1) - Pro Help For Troubled Blues Harmonica Beginners

In a series of videos aimed at novices, raw beginners, and other newbies, Adam Gussow of Modern Blues Harmonica helps you troubleshoot common problems. If you're new to this game, lacking some basic skills, but determined to get better, this video is for you!

Gussow, who has been playing blues harmonica for half a century and teaching it for almost 35 years, is best known for his partnership with Mississippi-born bluesman Sterling "Mr. Satan" Magee in the duo Satan & Adam.

[MarcosBluesharp]

Adam you are such a treasure to our dear small worldwide harmonica community!!! Thanks for all of the AMAZING content over the years and I also absolutely love your books! Hope to meet you in person some day, Cheers M.

[NvButcher]

Thank you for your videos. I'm 59 years old just starting. I appreciate you

[Skrebov_Nikita]

Thanks for your videos, Adam! Hello from far Russia. I barely can describe, how I appreciate your work. I'm trying to learn blues harmonica with your videos. I have to do it by myself because there are no harmonica players in the town where I live. And you have just backed me up. Thanks a lot!

[sneakerhead]

I have learned how to play the harmonica because of you...thank you Sir!!! 👍

[JB-rwxt]

Actually thanks to you, Ronnie Shellist, Hakan Ehn and others I picked up blues harmonica pretty fast teaching myself over the winter practicing 1 hour every nite. Of course it helped that I have over 40 years experience on guitar already knowing blues chord progressions, blues scales and a little theory.

[bubbybumble]

I found your channel yesterday after googling "how to play harmonica" because I found an old (bluesband) harp lying around. I'm still in the stages of getting a single note consistently. Your channel is very interesting to me, especially because you get deeper than most into understanding the concepts (and even the philosophies) behind certain things, which I really appreciate. Understanding like this is how I learn best, and it's most definitely an underrated way of approaching a new topic.

Once I can consistently play one note I'll invest in a better harmonica 😝. Thank you for making these videos!

[Blue_rd]

It’s great that you are still making interesting and helpful video lessons, Adam.
I also started playing thanks to your lessons, back in the kudzu runner days :). Cheers, from Spain ✌️

[leej]

I learn how to play the harmonica because of you also

[pauldecker]

Love you videos. 58 years young and starring with 14 year old daughter. Love it

[OldLostGuy]

Adam, i am that kid of long ago that, the Nuns took away my triangle and kicked me out of the school music group. That is how bad my rhythm was. I cannot understand any kind of music theory. Any kind of talk about cords, or bars, my mind just shuts down. I have been a lover of all things blues since 1963. Harmonica is the instrument I can sit and listen to for hours. But after years of trying on and off to learn harp, (including lessons) I have given up. I just want to do solo improvisation and blow riffs. This kind of video is just what I need. Thank you.

[sybilkleinmichel]

Thank you Adam!! We are not hopeless!!

[javierf]

I first bought a Fender Blues Deluxe but then I decided to get a Hohner Crossover as I think a good quality instrument facilitates the learning process.
Now I'm able to get single notes but I know it takes time and practice to master it. Thanks for your videos, they are all so much useful.

[TwoWheeledTon]

I got a special 20, and might I recommend buying one from your local music shop if you have one!

[mikesprau]

Thank you, sir. I am a beginner and learning and playing single notes is a goal of mine. This was very helpful.

[darrellmiddleton]

my first harp came today after watching some of your content. I bought an east top in A, as a guitar player i thought it would be the easiest key to learn. For the bargain price i got it for it sounds fantastic and with your help so will I.

[MacETAC]

Subscribed today, after watching some of your vids... I had a 12 hole marine Band back when I was a youngster, but never really learned how to play it... I've picked up a 10 hole in C and am trying to get started... I've watched different beginner videos and I like yours... I can actually do a bit of exercises for single and multi notes, and I try to mess with it every day, for about 15 to 20 minutes... I'm 62, retired military, so I sit at home looking for things to entertain myself... Look forward to making some strides and having that day I put some things together and blow my own mind... I have an eclectic taste in music and do listen to a blues channel on Pandora, and I think it would be too cool to play with some of the songs... As well, I have a number of friends who play guitar, and we do sit around, they play, I'll do a little singing, but I'd love to be able to play harmonica along...
So, TNX for the vids... Take care...

MAC

[jimicunningable]

I'm here because Jr Wells sat in with my jam band, Rube, near Chicago. What a priviledge & fun few songs! Since then, I've always said, I just gotta get onboard the harp.

[jaggerbrower]

Mr. Adam i cannot express the amount of gratitude i have for you and the wonderful lessons that you have shared with this world. I have only been playing for about a week now but you have jump started my harp ability to a whole new level. I am from Grenada MS, just about an hour away from where you live. I love the way you teach and coach people about the art and soulfulness of the blues. One thing that has helped me tremendously before i even bought a harmonica is that i watched almost all of your beginner lessons for a month straight prior to ordering my hohner harp. Thank you again and i hope i get to see Sir Rod & The Blues Doctors live around our parts soon, cant wait.

[ReformationRamblings]

When I was first starting, I took some tape, covered all the holes except the four, then blew. I made sure to pay special attention to where my mouth was positioned in order to get the correct sound, practiced a couple times, then removed the tape.

[joedaddy]

Your aging gracefully, bro. I've been pounding down videos from you and some others for two months now and according to some random electrician, I'm doing OK, with my special 20. I like the wood on my other Horner, but being German I have to stick with that brand, and my grandfather bought me a marine band one 3 decades ago and my friend Chuck it into a ditch when I figured out the muddy waters riff and used it to talk shit. Last year I asked for on for Christmas and a few months ago I dedicated myself to learn it to push my son on his guitar. He's back bullshiting but I'm staying on track.