Short stories featuring musical instruments and those who play them!
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“I am about to raise music to the next level” proclaimed Harvey.
“How? You don’t even play an instrument!” chuckled Charlotte.
“That’s where you are wrong young lady”.
“So maestro, do tell us more” begged Ben.
“I’ve discovered I have a natural ability to play a …”
Harvey paused.
“Tell you what,” he said, “I’ll buy a round if you can guess!”
“A clue?” asked Alice.
“I begins with …” he drummed the tabletop … “the letter H!”
“Don’t tell me it’s a harp!” laughed Larry.‘
“No sir”.
“A harpsichord?”
“No ma’am”.
“We give up” sighed a somewhat bored-looking Bobby.
“Well,” said Harvey, ‘It’s a … harmonica!”
We shouldn’t have laughed but we did.
“A mouth organ, really?” said Millie.
“Certainly not. It’s a Hohner Chromatic French Harp Phosphor Harmonica in the Key of C”.
He drew from his pocket a gold case, opened it then held the instrument aloft twixt his thumb and forefinger.
“Go on then, give us a tune,” said Terry.
Oh my goodness, what a din. He said it was his interpretation of a work of a classical composer with a long foreign-sounding name. I suggested he play something we might recognise. So he did.
Well, it sounded a bit like ‘What shall we do with the drunken sailor,’ played by a drunken sailor!
“Oy, you can stop that, Popeye” yelled the pub landlord!
“I’m going to raise my empty glass to the next level” giggled Gail.
Harvey took the hint and bought us all drink.
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Previous posts
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
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Years past
2020 – Stories featuring obsolete words – H
2019 – Stories for children – H
2018 – My Friend Rosey – H
2017 – The village of Amble Bay – H
Click on the letter of the day to revisit
Keith's Ramblings 
Bob Dylan would smile at this one, Keith. Cheers!
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I can see where the pub owner and other patrons might not enjoy an impromptu harmonica concert. Although, played well and a harmonica can be a beautiful thing. Weekends In Maine
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I used to be a great fan of harmonica player Larry Adler. He left us 20 years ago and no one has ever taken his place.
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Heeheehee! It takes a bit of doing to get the hang of the harmonica. Maybe he should try a kazoo, i think anyone can play that.
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Funny you should mention the kazoo – guess what my K will be!
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Harmonicas aren’t that easy to master . Actually I think they are quite squeaky ….
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Certainly not to everyone’s taste! Cheers Unishta.
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Haha! At least he had ambitions.
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They can’t knock him for that! Thanks Sadje.
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You’re welcome 😉
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Another very good one! I love the name of the harmonica, oh well, I must say the Hohner Chromatic French Harp Phosphor Harmonica in the Key of C (thanks to the ability of computers to copy and paste ;)) )
Quilting Patchwork & Appliqué
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Don’t worry, I copied and pasted it too Frédérique!
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He paid for the drinks…
then that’s a happily ever after,
after all that din:)
Happy to be here.
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A satisfactory outcome! I’m happy you dropped by. Cheers Arti.
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Luckily my sons played keyboard, French horn, mellophone, saxophone, clarinet….thankfully, no harmonica!
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Quite a noisy household then! I play the keyboard and saxaphone. Not sure what my neighbours think!
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Harmonicas are so hard to play! It takes real skill and not sure he’s got it! Fun story.
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I’m sure you’re right! Thanks Anne.
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In some Indian movies especially in the 70s….happy go lucky souls were shown playing the harmonica
It does have a peppy feel about it
https://pagesfromjayashree.blogspot.com/2021/04/headless-and-more-heads.html
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I had no idea about that! Thanks so much for dropping by.
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The harmonica is so hard to play. I make a din on it too.
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That makes three of us then!
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My dad use to play around with the harmonica when I was young. He bought me one hoping I would take it up, but I prefer to listen to music. I am not skilled at playing it.
Stopping in from A to Z: https://writingiscommunication.wordpress.com/2021/04/09/h-h-writing-words/
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I hope you at least had a go! Cheers.
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I don’t have much musical talent, but I can play a good blues riff on harmonica.
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That’s what they’re best suited to in my opinion. Well done Liam!
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Yes, you got me with the ‘Hohner Chromatic French Harp Phosphor Harmonica in the Key of C’ too. I think I might learn that expressions and make it into some kind of party piece! Another really fun story, Keith. .
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Best of luck with that Jenne! Thanks so much.
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It all ends in harmony, that’s the main thing. And a drink.
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Yep, and the the drink is the mainest thing of all!
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A fellow author here is also a traveling surgeon and took up the harmonica to entertain himself during his travels and extended stays in other countries. Being self-taught, he did sound a bit better than Harvey, though.
https://gail-baugniet.blogspot.com/
H is for Hawaiian hibiscus
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A great idea as it’s so easy to transport, certainly less cumbersome than a piano!
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Everyone’s got to start somewhere, right? My dad used to play harmonica. He was never great, but he was good enough to be a lot of fun!
Black and White: I for Isles
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That’s more important than being a perfectionist! Thanks Anne.
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My dad was amazing with the Harmonica (among other instruments. He used to play drums in a band). Me? I can breath in and out. Never got the hang of it.
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It does help if you can! Cheers Stu.
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Sometimes I really love the harmonica, but usually when added to the rest of the band. Thinking specifically of Steven Tyler, then I scroll back to see you mentioned him the day before! Too funny.
– Allison (https://lightningflashx.blogspot.com/)
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What a coincidence. I’m totally with you on when and where the harmonica belongs.
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