I might be able to come up with some harmonica tabs. But just what Avett Brothers songs use harmonica? I can't think of any off the top of my head...

me too^ How do you know which harp to play in any given song? is it as simple as using a G harp for a song in the key of G? Or is it more involved than that?
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For Colorshow, I play a harp in C Major. From what I gather, it's basically this:

6b 6b------ 4b 4d 5b 5d 6b------ | 6b 6b----- 6d 6b-----

So that's G G------ C D E F G----- | G G----- A G-----

The b means blow and the d means draw.

I think when it gets to the second phrase, he bends that G a bit and there might be some more ornaments going on, but I can't pick them out since I am a beginner too. I just started playing harmonica myself and got a Hohner Special 20 and it's sounds great and it's easier to play than the $10 one I first had.

This place has tons of harmonica stuff on it, so check it out to learn easy songs at first and then work your way up. =)

http://www.harmonicacountry.com/

~trevor

Lotus is right about colorshow.

Most blues and rock songs are played in cross harp, which is a 4th above the actual key.

Most of Bob Dylan's songs are in straight harp. So if the song is in G, you play a G harmonica.

Hohner Special 20's are really good harmonicas. They cost about $20 more but they're worth it.

I'd like to learn some other Avett Brothers songs on harmonica besides colorshow. Can anybody tell me some other songs of theirs which have good harmonica parts? If I figure any out I'll put some tabs up.

i bought a set of all the keys from guitar center recently and it was only like 39 bucks before the coupon i used! glory days is a nice one to work with i don't really know anything about tabs but it is not hard to play along with that one.

Thanks for the songlist surfinchemist. I'm going to try those songs out right now.

Hey all. I play harp to a lot of Avett Brothers songs as of late. If I get some time I will write down some of what I play so you can try.

One the topic of Harps on the market and what "is the best". As with most musical instruments, harmonica likes and dislikes really are up to the player. I use multiple brands depending on type of music, aggressiveness, quality of sound (rich or tinny) required, mic'ed or un-mic'ed, etc. Here are some of my personal pros and cons:

Lee Oskar
Pros:
- Great for single note soloing. Big blow holes make it easier
- Plastic Comb is more gentle on your lips/tongue
- Bright sound, loud, clear.

Cons:
- Hard to get a dirty sound for deep blues
- Personal opinion here but it is not as rich as a wood comb. Think how an old guitar seems to get its own personality over time.
- little larger than some of the others in width.

Hohner - Hohner makes a LOT of variations. Marine band, Blues Harp (MS), Cross Harp (MS), Special 20, and even an old trumpet harp (really wild to play). Check out the site for details. They include metal, plastic, and wooden combs. I will write the pros and cons based on the harps I use from Hohner (Blues Harp, pro harp, and cross harp models)
Pros:
- Blues harp is nice and dirty. Wooden comb gives a deep sound.
- Pro harp is plastic comb and easier on the lips for fast moving songs that need accompaniment
- Cross harp is a metal comb. I use it for loud aggressive sounds that need a drive from the harp player. I play this in the role of lead.
- MS series allows for reed and part replacement which is nice when at a gig to have some extra reeds if you blow something out.
- I prefer the wooden combs but you need to "wear them in". Once you do it gets to sounding like a dream.
- smaller than Lees so easier to manipulate on fast tunes

Cons:
- Wooden combs are tough on the lips. But like guitar players toughen their fingers, you need to condition your lips as well.
- Wooden combs will expand and contract and give each harp a unique sounds...sometimes uniquely out of key lol
- smaller size can make it more difficult to solo note play. But as you get better this goes away.

Now which to buy. I have been playing for about 25 years and I carry the following keys and have rarely been in trouble at a show: a(x2), b, c(x2), d(x2), e(x2), f, g(x2), bFlat, Super Chromonica, and a jew's harp (nothing to do with Jewish folks though). I carry 2x of the ones I usually "blow out" during a show.

Now about cross and straight harp playing. I play straight almost exclusively (yep even on blues). I find that I prefer to play the lower notes on the scale rather than hitting the highs all the time. I do play cross occasionally when the song demands it (you will know). But if you go sit in at random shows, its a lot easier to just say "hey what key you in" and just go with it. Another thing to note is you can "learn" songs but honestly, this will get to be second nature after a while of playing. If you stick with it and practice, you will find that "most" songs follow a pattern (caution, music spoiler...go look up the cycle of fifths...and I always thought guitarist just "knew" songs out of musical genious...) and it gets really easier to free form after a while and still sound like it was all planned.

So thats about all I have. I meet so few harp players it almost feels like its a dying artform. So if your new, start blowin! If not, keep blowin!