Some of you guys on here have a huge knowledege of Mike's music and I wondered if you might help me out.

I'm learning to play the harmonica. It's pretty painful at the moment but I'm getting there (I've played drums for years but learning a new instrument at my age is taking it's toll)!

Anyhow, does anyone here know what type of harp Mike uses? - I'm guessing it's the usual ten-hole Diatonic but, I'm not so sure it's in the key of 'C'.

I've tried to replecate the sound and just can't get it at all. My only thought is that it must be in a different key (mine's a 'C' as all the tutorials start you off with a c harp.

If anyone can shed any light on what Mike uses, it would be most appreciated. To get the intro to The Deciever sounding good would be awesome

Cheers guys.

HT

"Hard Travellin"
With a sig like that i thought you'd be interested in Dave's make of harp (too?)
As for Mike's, i've no idea....Ask Andy G, the walking MP encyclopedia.
Andy's not the Mastermind Champ for nothing (3 times?) Greedy git!

"HT" Are you bringing your blowing skills to the G?

Robbo!

I write for a weekly publication that goes to press on a Monday so I always have to work the weekend. Alas this means no Gathering for me until I retire!

Hoepfully Andy G will see my post and be able to help me out on the harp issue

Me an instruments don't go together at all, so I'm not much use to you on this one. Mike usally has 3/4 with hime on stage.

I guess they are all in a different key, It has been known for him to pick the wrong one up occasionally in the heat of a gig

Thanks anyway. I'll keep practising and, in the meantime, hopefully someone may have an answer.

I guess I may find out as I learn more about it - being a drummer, notes, chords and keys don't mean much to me at the moment either!

Hey HT, I think you can play the intro melody on harmonica in the key of C. You may wish to try the following:

FFE DFEFEDB FFE FFE FEC

or on the gtr. (second string): 665 3656530 665 665 651

Sounds like there is a litle embellishment on the first note.

Let us know how it goes!

What a haunting intro and brilliant song.

Cheers

well it is good to see i am not the only alarm fan who has decided to try and learn harmonica due to our love of mike's music. i bought a harmonica as well and am at the way beginner stages as well. i dont have a clue but my goal is to learn the alarm songs and be able to play along. so who has something to help us beginners? is there any harmonica tablature floating out there? what type of harmonica does mike use? key of c? key of g? i have no clue, but i am dying to learn.

For anyone who checks this thread...

I actually asked Mike about this last year as although I've played little bits over the years, I wanted to get some decent harmonicas and get the right sounds for some music I am writing.

Mike told me that he uses Huang diatonic harmonicas. So you are best off getting yourself a set of harmonicas. Realistically you can probably just get a handful in the most common keys for rock music.

In case you need to know, diatonic harmonicas come in a single key and will only contain the notes for that given key. This makes playing very easy indeed as even if you aren't playing exactly what you are supposed to for a given song, you're not likely to hit a bum note.

Hi
A bit late I know but I can confirm Mike used to use Huang harmonicas,whether he still does I dont know. I know this as I actually have one of his that I was given one circa 1998,I think,when he played The Martell in Falkirk.
Its a Huang Silvertone Deluxe and has a sticker label on it saying "B",so I guess thats the key.
Hope this helps,
Tony