The Harp Handbook: Revised & Expanded 3rd Edition

This book deserves a long glowing review, but I don't want to make you waste time reading my comments, when you could be reading this book.Seriously, the reference information, the musical insight, the CD, etc... Well worth the price!I bought this book two years ago, and I was recommending it to a friend today. I looked it up so that I could send the link to my friend and I was surprised to see only one review!I know that book gets lots of praise in "harp circles" and my only guess is that people just assume that everyone knows how great a book it is, and they (like me) forget to go back and write a review.

Fun read, theres quite a lot to learn here and I reference it every time I tune/gap/flex/file my harmonica. The insights into tuning, bending, overbearing are priceless.

If you're a beginner, this, along with "Harmonica For Dummies" may be all you'll ever need.

if you want a book to show you the in's and out's of harp playing this is your book I learned alot from this book and will use it in making my harp playing better

I am starting to play the harp. This is a good resource for me to grow with. Has an accompanying CD

This is not a harmonica instruction book as some of the other reviews stated. This is a handbook badly in need of revision (1989). An example of a good harmonica instruction book is most anything by Gindick, Barrett, Portnoy, or Gelling (my favorite). The instruction book by Charlie McCoy is also worth a gander. Though this book has some useful tips on bending and overblows, it totally neglects to discuss how to do a blow bend, though there are several exercises for blow bending. Baker admits that overdraws are tough, and doesn't discuss or demonstrate them at all. Baker meanders through lots of different topics, but doesn't really teach much of anything.The exercises could potentially be the best part of the book, but did the other reviews mention that they are not broken into separate tracks but the CD is simply a copy of the cassette tape as it was originally issued? That's right, the almost 60 exercises, totaling only 30 minutes, are on just 2 tracks on the CD, one for each side of the original cassette tape. Therefore, the exercises are practically useless, unless you are willing to re-record them broken into individual tracks. The publisher should have done this, or maybe Baker should have done this if he's still getting royalties, but the buyer shouldn't have to do it. By the way, the exercises are all in the back of the book and are not interleaved with the text; they're like an appendix, with virtually no explanations or tips. They are not as comprehensive as Barrett's exercises, and Portnoy's bending exercises are much better and cover more combinations. But Baker's exercises will give you some other things to try and they will most certainly humble you, especially when he plays fast.There is nothing unique about this book and I definitely wouldn't recommend it to a beginner. But if you like owning different harmonica books, are looking for alternative explanations and are willing to divide the cassette-based CD into tracks so they can be used, then maybe you'll want to consider this book.

I've got some 8 or 10 dozens of instructional music books, bought from the late 1970's on, no just on harp, but also on guitar and piano (both blues, bebop and other styles too) and I must say that this is probably the finest one of the lot!Just like the instrument itself, this book is a little wonder of possibilities and new ways to explore and enjoy for any musician. Less than 100 pages, yes, but there is tons of info here both for the novice and for the advanced player. Please take a look at the index:- History of the instrument- Construction and manufacture- How the harp works: bending and overblowing- The different positions of the diatonic harmonica- Important playing techniques (breathing, timing, trills, octaving, etc.)- Styles (including "Playing Jazz on the Harmonica")- Diferent Tunings (major 7th, minor tunings, and much more)- Tuning. Maintenance, Customizing, Experimenting- Amplification- Blues Harp styles and stylists (well, ALL of them masters and more are here)- Post-Blues Harp players (from bluesgrass to Indian music...)- Discography (10 pages!)- Training Exercises (18 pages, with CD!).In sum, an absolutely essential reading for anybody with more than a passing interest on this amazing instrument. Also, in my opinion, one of the very best music handbooks ever writen. Truly COMPLETE. If only somebody would release a hardback edition too...!:-)

Exactly what the hubby wanted for his new hobby!

Superb reference book for all levels of harp playerExplains the science and art behind the instrumentA book to dip into when required.....and provide inspiration when improving one's technique....

A very good book for the serious harp player,there is also a lot in there for the beginner.Steve also goes into the history of the harp and maintaining the harpSome of the book is for those who read music so i would say it is not for every body.

If you want a single volume book that covers a great deal this is it. The price is ridiculously low for the contents and everything about the book itself (e.g. paper, typeface) is quality.

More history and maintenance than a tutorial but does have some of that too.

Brilliant.