Harmonica in Bluegrass

[ken klein]

Why not? I am a harp player,please tell me why not...If it is played well and on time...

[Uncle Billy Dunbar]

Been airing Bluegrass music for over 35 years and never heard a true Bluegrass Band with mouth harp. Hillbilly or Ole Time Country maybe. Bill Monroe when playing with his brother Charlie had a accordian in the band, but he wasn't calling his music Bluegrass then it was Hillbilly. Now don't get me wrong, I love harp music, but when Monroe set up his band and penned the name Bluegrass there wasn't any mouth harp in it.

[ken klein]

I know what you are saying,Bill Monroe started the bluegrass sound..maybe he had a great fiddle player instead of a harmonica...a harp is real close to a fiddle..in sound..I hear all the time that harmonica is not traditional in bluegrass,and they are right..
But bluegrass is a mixture..Just take some folk,add old country and alittle blues and you have bluegrass..and the harp fits nicely into that mix... there are so many blues licks in grass that if a harp is not traditional when you say Monroe it should have been

[Bear Hill Bluegrass]

Thank goodness everyone does not have to pattern their band after "Monroe" to be bluegrass. 35 years or not, our band is traditional bluegrass. Ken's harp fits good and makes playing fun. Hillbilly? Well probably so :) But if we are hillbilly so is Flatt and Scruggs, Stanley Bros., and all the rest of the music we play. I quess we are all hillbillies if we are not playing the new progressive/ contemporary bluegrass :(

[Mitch Hill]

I love good harmonica playing. I play a little myself... I've heard some harmonica played in some jams that really added something good to the sound.

I'm just not sure that I "personally" would want to hear a harmonica break in every song.

[ken klein]

Thats a good point,the harp can easily be over played..I guess that can be true with any instrument..it comes down to personal taste..some songs I'll just fill in the holes other songs I'll play lead...what you don't play is as important as what you do !

[Paul Dorn]

Harmonica sucks! and blows.....

Just kidding! I've seen it used very well,and well..I have seen it used very badly.
In this style "too much" is a fine line.A lot of harp players play "too much",and that seals their fate for me.My threshold might be less than most, but I can get worn out by mandolin chops too.A lot of note bending and constant riffing will earn you a walk to the bathroom by me.

[ken klein]

Yes,too much harp sucks..I know what you mean about the mandolin chops,don't forget those loud banjo players too...the trick is to listen to each other..easier said than done....

[Paul Dorn]

Don't get me started on banjo.....Bass players , however are perfect!

[ken klein]

I may have to agree with you on that one..to me there is nothing better than a solid bass line..you are the soul of the band...with out you we would be lost..I love that slap thing you all do. and I think you should be up front with the rest of the band on stage..not way in the back..

[ken klein]

well I guess there is no more to say about the harmonica in bluegrass,some will like it ,some will hate it and some have yet to hear it...all I ask is to have an open mind and don't prejudge because of what others may think..you be the judge...this post has been fun...controversial topics in bluegrass need to be talked about...thanks Bluegrasser for giving us this space to do just that..