The Harmonica Club

of Huntington, WV             founded August 2001

Home Page We meet every Tuesday 8pm-10pm at The Java Joint, 16th st & 3rd Ave,  EVERYONE welcome 

but if you can't  make it to the meeting PLAY ALONG with us here, on-line

Adam Gussow Workshop coming Tuesday July 28th, also the 2nd Annual WV State Harmonica Championship

Home info on The WV Harmonica Championship Saturday July 26th 2008 Listen, read and see  WV Harmonica Championship 2007 Play Along With Us Downloads Harp Tabs to songs that we play Pictures Videos Lessons Contact Us Map to Java Joint where the club meets LINKS to other Harmonica Related Sites

Hello Harpers      the newest harp news 5-25-2008  The Ironton Memorial Day Parade was FINE.  Everyone chipped in, so no one person worked too much.  We overcame a few technical difficulties and came out with a fine sound for a large audience. We had Brent on Drums, Richard and Bobby on guitars, Tom on Bass.  On harp was Dick, Ron, Banjo Jim, Paul, Jane, Joanne, and me.  Yes, I stepped on my microphone cord and unplugged myself, and I started a few songs on the wrong note. But we did FINE.  The girls even took the lead by starting   The Marine's Hymn and The Caissons go Rolling Along.  They would do the first verse as a trio, then us guys would jump in.  They made us proud. 5-4-2008 Just added the CROSS HARP tab to Have You Ever Seen the Rain. Click on Tabs to Songs in LEFT COLUMN 3-23-2008 So here is the first release of  the 3 tunes recorded this March. HERE to HEAR Happy Wonderer HERE to HEAR Freight Trian / Wreck of Old 97 medley HERE to HEAR Big Boss Man 4-19-2008 MY SUZUKI BLUES MASTER HARPS are here. Thanks to all of you how made this possible. When my first pick of a 7 pack of  Special 20's were back ordered, I started looking for an alternative.  I looked at Lee Oscar and Bushman Delta Frost. I had a poor experience with my first set of Lee Oscars, and I've run into a backorder problem with Bushman, as well as a dissapointing performance with the last reed plates I received from Bushman. John Ball was telling me how happy he was with his Suzuki. Dick King had given me a ProHarp Valved that was impresive. I decided to look into them. Some digging turned up this tid-bit. The Suzuki BluesMaster and the Bushman Delta Frost have interchangeable phosphur-bronze reed plates. The combs are the same too. Many voices say they are the same harp with a different cover. I found a 6 pack for $100 even, including shipping.  The keys are A, Bd, C, D, F , G.  To me, this was a better line up than the Special 20 pack of ABCDEFG.  We NEVER use B and E, and I want a Bd to do the Adam Gussow video lessons. 2-18-2008 We have 2 recordings wrapped up. Go to the PLAY ALONG page (click on the link in the leftcolumn). You will find Wild Wood Flower and Sweet Home Chicago. You will also find Sweet Home Chicago WITH NO HARP for you to use for practice. 1-15-2008  We have started our recording session at Richard Tanner's home. The first 2 tunes are under way. We will tackle a few more next time on Feb 12th. What I have learned, is that we all need a refresher course on the 12 bar blues.  That's what we will work on in January at The Java Joint.  Expect to recieve a handout and go through a 15 minute drill and lesson.  We will ALL be better by the end Here is a link to our last 2 recordings http://hhcwv.com/mp3/jj20071218.mp3 http://hhcwv.com/mp3/jj20080108.mp3 Sweet Home Chicago with NO HARP 1-1-2008 I just checked, and it's been a while since I've sent you guys anything.  So let me catch up on the past and talk about the future. Below you will find a link to the Dec 4th session at The Java Joint. The special event that night was that we had 7 different people sing. There was me, Brent, Tom, Rick Ruggles, John Van Kirk, Lonnie, and a guest who's name escapes me at the moment.  There are some Christmas tunes thrown in there too. I've been slow the last 30 days due to computer woes, but I have it under control now…… after a reformat and re-install, but the process was helped out by the new 320 gig external drive that now holds the club's recorded tunes.  The 120 gig was maxed out. We will meet at The Java Joint January 8th at the usual time, but January 15th marks our first RECORDING SESSION at Richard's house in Barboursville.  No instructions on how to get there yet.  All I know is, make your way to the 4-H camp …… and the instructions will go from there.  Come early, bring a snack, and expect to sit around a lot.  It should be a learning experience for all of us. 12-04-2007 Java Joint with 7 singers and Christmas Tunes 11-25-2008   Adam Gussow is coming summer 2008.  Paula is making arrangements and we are working out details.  Make plans to meet with this exceptional harp player and teacher. We will start a recording project. Starting in 2008, we will meet the 2nd Tuesday at Richard's house to do a "real" recording. Richard has a 16 track digital studio in his home.  We should be able to do anything we want. Ask for details I've added links to our latest recordings. You can even find a few Christmas tunes buried in one of them. 9-4-2007,Tuesday was the return of Bobby on guitar and Toni Crozier on Harp.  They both showed up for the second half of the get-together.  During the first half we did a run through of Maggie.  Check out the tab for Maggie on the web site. In the second half we did Black Magic Woman.  You'll find the tab, chords, and words for Black Magic Woman on the web site. 9-04-2007 Java Joint second half with Toni Crozier 9-04-2007 Java Joint first half 8-28-2007 We had Jason and Brian show up again.  John Ball played guitar with Richard.  Brian showed up for the last hour. You can hear him play on some of the last tunes.  We watched the Gussow Lesson #22 and #23. Learning about amplifying the harp and some some split note draw chords. On Tuesday, Sept 11th Pullman Square.8-10  It is also Brent's Birthday (our drummer) and our last Night on the Town 2007.  Expect a cake and bring a token gift for Brent. ( a token gift is something you have laying around the house that you don't want anymore, like a book of matches or pictures of your old girlfriend….. be creative and wrap it up. )  Maybe we'll have Brent open a gift between songs and tell the audience what it is. It's time to sell our Tascam Digital Recorder model DP-01.  It's a dynamite standalone 8-track recorder, but the laptop saves me time. The Tascam worked great for the 18 months we used it, but it's a shame to see the piece set unused.  We still have the original box and papers.  On E-Bay it sells used for about $200.  The first $200 takes it, or any regular club member can have it for $150.  If there are any complaints from the crew, I reserve the right to withdraw this offer. Click to Hear 8-28-2007 with Brian Salters Last Tuesday 8-21-2007, hit near the new semester for Marshall University. So 2 young faces appeared. Andrew came with his guitar and Jason Breslin came with his Harp. Brent and Tom were out, so no bass or drums. One thing different, we did a run through of about 10 straight harp tunes. It was a good drill and refresher. Saturday was The Multi Cultural Festival. The 5 o'clock group sent their regrets, so we were asked to start early, but Paula and I were the only early birds. Paula volunteered to do her own "Shopping at the Walmart Blues". Then as others drifted in, we slowly took form.  Ron lead the gang in a tune as I went to get my bass and amp.  Then like a steamroller, we started slow and built up steam.  Then about the time we got rolling, strong winds threatened a storm and the sound man said, "shut it down". Still, it was a good show.  The players were Jim (me), Paula, Richard , Lonnie, Dick, Ron, John Van Kirk, Pete. Click Here to Hear  Java Joint Tuesday's 8-21-2007 recording. Tuesday 8-14-2007 was our Night on the Town at Pullman Square. Tom and BrI just checked, and it's been a while since I've sent you guys anything.  SO let me catch up on the past and talk about the future. At the bottom you will find a link to the Dec 12th session at The Java Joint. The special event that night was that we had 7 different people sing. There was me, Brent, Tom, Rick Ruggles, John Van Kirk, Lonnie, and a guest who's name escapes me at the moment.  There are some Christmas tunes thrown in there too. I've been slow the last 30 days due to computer woes, but I have it under control now…… after a reformat and re-install, but the process was helped out by the new 320 gig external drive that now holds the club's recorded tunes.  The 120 gig was maxed out. We will meet at The Java Joint January 8th at the usual time, but January 15th marks our first RECORDING SESSION at Richard's house in Barboursville.  No instructions on how to get there yet.  All I know is, make your way to the 4-H camp …… and the instructions will go from there.  Come early, bring a snack, and expect to sit around a lot.  It should be a learning experience for all of us. ent were our core rhythm section with quest guitar player Steve Jeffers. Steve and I played in a local band some 30+years ago. Tom kept Steve informed on what to do, and we all made music. CLICK HERE to HEAR Pullman Square 8-14-2007 8-7-2007 Another pleasant evening at The Java Joint.  The heat kept some at home, but we had a pleasant time. We had Gussow lessons 20 and 21 on the 3 chord blues progression and a review of basics. Click to hear- Aug 7 2007 Java Joint 7-31-2007 The Java Joint was full of local harpers talking about The WV State Championship. To read about the championship, click on the link in the left hand column.  As well as talking, we  had Dave Gussow lesson 18 and 19 on the 3 chord blues progression and the cross harp blues minor scale. Click to hear- July 31 2007 with Brian,Mark and Rick Click to hear....... The West Virginia State Harmonica Championship 2007 7-22-2007  Darrell Brown wins 2nd place in Ohio State Harmonica Championship.  I was PROUD as 4 members from our club participated in the event.  They were Ray, Kermit, Paula, and Darrell. Ray had the hard job of being the first participant. Darrell had the problem of being the last out of a total of 13 players. This year there was more players, variety, and tougher competition all around. Our gang did GOOD. 7-10-2007 Pullman Square was fun.  We had a good turnout of harpers and pickers. Tony Crozier stopped in and did one tune. Click to listen to the mp3 Pullman Square 7-10-2007 6-23-2007  The Iron Furnace Festival at Lake Vesovious was a success.  Good weather and a pleasant crowd made for a good time by everyone. At the end of the performance we were told to reserve June 14th, 2008 for our 3rd appearance. 5-29-2007 Michael Salters plays guitar at The Java Joint The usual drums and guitars were not there Tuesday, but Brian showed up about http://hhcwv.com/mp3/jj20070529.mp39 with his 2 boys.  Paula let Brian use her guitar, and we all had a smile as Michael started picking out the blues chords.  Give a listen Java Joint 5-29-2007 with Brian and Michael Salters I just checked, and it's been a while since I've sent you guys anything.  SO let me catch up on the past and talk about the future. At the bottom you will find a link to the Dec 12th session at The Java Joint. The special event that night was that we had 7 different people sing. There was me, Brent, Tom, Rick Ruggles, John Van Kirk, Lonnie, and a guest who's name escapes me at the moment.  There are some Christmas tunes thrown in there too. I've been slow the last 30 days due to computer woes, but I have it under control now…… after a reformat and re-install, but the process was helped out by the new 320 gig external drive that now holds the club's recorded tunes.  The 120 gig was maxed out. We will meet at The Java Joint January 8th at the usual time, but January 15th marks our first RECORDING SESSION at Richard's house in Barboursville.  No instructions on how to get there yet.  All I know is, make your way to the 4-H camp …… and the instructions will go from there.  Come early, bring a snack, and expect to sit around a lot.  It should be a learning experience for all of us. Here's a 10 second  MOV file video of us at:   The Ironton Memorial Day Parade 2007   We had 2 guitars, a bass and 7 harps as we played in front of over 20,000 spectators. 4-17-2007 Here's the recording from last Tuesday. You'll hear our first attempt at 'The Wreck of the Edmond Fitzgerald". We now have a ship wreck song to add to our train wreck Songs. I guess we should hunt for a car wreck song and an airplane crash song too. The video lessons were on the 1 hole draw and the 3 hole bent. I am VERY happy with the Gussow series of lessons. It's just what I have needed to grow to the next level. If you listen to the recordings you'll hear: DRUMS: Brent GUITAR: Richard, Tom, Bobby, Nick Medich HARPS: Jim (me), Lonnie, Paula, Dick, John Ball HERE to HEAR Java Joint 04-17-2007

Here is our calendar of events. Saturday June 14th, 2008, 3pm,  Iron Furnace Festival at Lake Vesuvious Saturday June 21st 1pm, 3pm, 5 pm ( 3 shows 45 minutes long ) Central City Days at 14th street west Huntington. It's a big street party. Lots to see Starting January 2008 we will meet every 2nd Tuesday at Richard's house to do a recording for a CD. Ask for details Adam Gussow is being scheduled for a harmonica workshop Tuesday July 29th - Adam Gussow at Rt 60 Music  - $10 - 7:00pm   The Second Annual WV State Harmonica Championship will be in July 26th,  2008 To ask us a question about upcoming events, click here, or CONTACT US  in the left column We meet every Tuesday 8pm-10pm at The Java Joint, 16th st & 3rd Ave,  EVERYONE welcome., from beginners to old-timers, to people that just like to listen and sing along. But every 2nd Tuesday through Sept at Pullman Square