Best Blues Harmonica Players

BrianScott01

The Top Ten

1 Paul Butterfield Paul Butterfield

Even "extraordinary" is an understatement. Part of the magic derives from his playing harp upside-down and backwards. As a result, his tone was fuller and richer than anyone before or since, owing to his oral cavity being in unorthodox juxtaposition vis-a-vis the blow and draw plates. Because he played right-to-left, he came upon licks and created runs never before heard. His wind was superhuman. His vibrato is unmatched to this day. His use of chords was revolutionary, and when he laid vibrato on his chords, the effect was celestial, as it was with single notes, as well. You'll not see his like again. Though his musical ability was superhuman, May 4th marked thirty years since we lost him to his own all-too-human weaknesses. RIP.

While it was difficult to me to choose a best Blues Artist, choosing a best Harmonica Player is so much easier. Where I love listening to Little Walter, Charlie Musselwhite et al, Paul's playing is hypnotic; it's like there's nothing else in the world except me and this amazing sound. When he plays, I drift. Simple. - Britgirl

What can I add that hadn't been so eloquently put already? He deserves to take gold. Simple. - Britgirl

Simply the best but no mention on this site of one of Americas most influential guitarists Michael Bloomfield should be in the first three probably number one.

V 3 Comments
2 Little Walter

Lush, if you've never ridden in a 1972 Cadillac Coupe Deville at 100 miles an hour you don't understand. Every time I listen to him you hear different layer and the different angle. Not what you call fancy. Just deep!

The pioneer of amplified harp, and really the only choice, overall, for #2. A great deal is owed him.

3 George "Harmonica" Smith
4 Sonny Boy Williamson II
5 Jimmy Reed

Correction: Hadn't noticed Jimmy was on this list. He doesn't belong here any more than does Mick Jagger. Jimmy was a repetitive screecher; pretty much a one-trick pony with little imagination and no virtuosity in his playing. Anyone breathing could master his "technique" in a week or less.

This is quite ironic. You'd think with a name like Reed, he'd be better than his name suggests, but he's actually one of the weakest harp players on this list. - Britgirl

My personal taste would say that Jimmy Reed's playing is a little screechy and scratchy. For me, it has to be smooth and have that 'up and down' flow like sea waves. Paul Butterfield, Junior Wells, Charlie Musselwhite, Taj Mahal and King Biscuit Boy are all able to produce that perfect sound. - Britgirl

6 Junior Wells
7 Walter Horton

No one sounded like Walter Horton! Absolutely amazing!

Everybody borrowed from Shakey, including me. (Oops... Fergot. Ah'm invisible, now.)

8 Mick Jagger Mick Jagger Sir Michael Philip "Mick" Jagger is an English singer, songwriter, and actor, best known as the lead vocalist and a co-founder of the Rolling Stones.

Owing to national pride and other emotional attachments, some may think Jagger "deserves" to be here. But reality bites, and he really is not a good harp player, and certainly far outside the abilities and musicality of everyone else on this list. Sorry, but what is, IS.

Sorry, but Jagger has no place on this list. He's been at it for at least fifty-five years, and still sounds about like I did when when I'd been playing less than a year, forty-five years ago.

He does deserve to be here and I'm glad he was added. - Britgirl

Not a harmonica player. Shouldn't be on the list.

9 Charlie Musselwhite Charlie Musselwhite

For an overview of Charlie in his prime, check "Arkansas Boogie," "Help Me," "Blu Stu," and "Christo Redemptor" (piano version).

Charlie playes his heart out. Like B.B.King on Lucille!

10 Jason Ricci

No one has the speed, preciseness and diversity coupled with the ability to play with such soul. The Jimmy Hendrix of the harp.

Belongs in the top 10.

Completely disagree about Ricci. No "soul" - simply a shredder with weak musicality.

The Contenders

11 John Popper

He should be up at the top, this list is ridiculous having him all the way down here at 15, really?

Simply just incredible I can listen to his solo's all day long.

I actually met him once - Solacress

12 Alan Wilson

Boogie Chillen No2 by Hooker at Heat

Never reached his full potential. Drugs and depression took him out early. For sumpin' tasty, try "Huautla" (Canned Heat).

13 Sonny Boy Williamson I
14 James Cotton

Cotton in his prime was right up there with his mentor Sonny Boy Williamson

15 Sugar Blue
16 Carey Bell

Not sure why,but Bell's playing always makes my ears perk up.

17 Robert Plant Robert Plant Robert Anthony Plant is an English musician, singer, and songwriter best known as the lead singer and lyricist of the rock band Led Zeppelin.

I didn't add him into the top 10 at first because his only really impressive harp playing is on When The Levee Breaks. - BrianScott01

18 Paul Lenart
19 Will Wilde

He has to be heard to be believed He can play all types of Blues, but I particularly love his slow Blues. He's just incredible. Check him out on YouTube as soon as you've read this. Any Blues harmonica enthusiast will not be disappointed. Oh, and he's English. Just saying... - Britgirl

20 Norton Buffalo
21 Taj Mahal Taj Mahal Henry Saint Clair Fredericks, who uses the stage name Taj Mahal, is an American blues musician, a self-taught singer-songwriter and film composer who plays the guitar, piano, banjo, and harmonica, among many other instruments.

Butterfield is rightly first choice but Taj's talent with the harp mustn't go unnoticed. Should really be in the top five. - Britgirl

Dirty, greasy, juicy, slurry, throaty harp. Loved him for more decades than I care t'member.

22 Rick Estrin

Check out "D.O.G." The song's a hoot, and his licks mighty respectable.

Saw little charlie and the nightcats twice. Rick estrin is awesome
So is little charlie by the way

23 Sonny Terry

23 is too low!

24 Victor Uris

What does it matter if he's Spanish? Great harmonica playing speaks the same beautiful language the whole world over. - Britgirl

25 Billy Branch
26 Gary Primich
27 King Biscuit Boy King Biscuit Boy

Rich was an old acquaintance of mine, and a really nice guy. And when he was switched on, he was pure screamin' smoke. RIP.

28 David Blight

Cold Chisel don't necessarily play the blues but Blight is a blues harp player, a great one at that. Just watch some live performances. - BrianScott01

"Great" is quite a stretch. "Fair" would be much more accurate.

29 Howlin' Wolf Howlin' Wolf
30 Captain Beefheart Captain Beefheart Don Van Vliet was an American singer, songwriter, musician and artist best known by the stage name Captain Beefheart.

Long Neck Bottles is good. - Britgirl

31 Johnny Dyer
32 Paul Jones

Lead with Manfred Mann - 76 and still playing at his best. Got to be in the top ten!

33 Jerry "Boogie" McCain
34 Paul Lenart

What is it with great Blues harmonica players and the name Paul? - Britgirl

35 John Mayall John Mayall John Mayall is an English blues singer, guitarist, organist and songwriter, whose musical career spans over fifty years.

JUST DAM GOOD

36 Grady Champion
37 Konstantin Reinfeld
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