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Rolling Stones quotes: Jagger finds his harmonica voice

Mick Jagger didn’t become a harmonica player by following a method book or sitting at a teacher’s knee. He learned the hard way, through rivalry, frustration, and a pile of cheap, easily destroyed instruments. Competing with Brian Jones gave him a reason to push further, while watching blues purist Cyril Davies—who flatly refused to teach him—left Jagger with no option but to listen closely and copy what he heard. It was an unguided education built on instinct rather than theory. Broken reeds and wasted money became part of the process, but so did independence. That rough, self-taught struggle is precisely what forged Jagger’s raw, blues-driven harmonica style.

“I’m a Little Walter fan, but I can’t remember when I first started to play harmonica. In the early days, there was obviously a competitive aspect between me and Brian, in the same way that Keith was competitive with Brian on guitar… First of all I did figure out that you had to have loads of harmonicas in different keys, which was very expensive; you had to have them because otherwise you were stuck. And you also needed reeds because they would often break and frequently be badly made…

…Then I wanted to know how you played harmonica, but Cyril (Davies) refused to tell me. So I just observed him. I used to chat to him and in the end he got kind of used to me, but the harmonica is not an instrument that is very easy to teach, because you’re not sitting there with a keyboard, saying, Oh, Mick this is how you play, you put your finger on there. With the harmonica you can’t really show someone what to do in their mouth…

…I’m sure there are books and tutors that you can buy, but what I did was to sit around with my one harmonica listening to records by Jimmy Reed, who conveniently only plays in a couple of keys, so there were only two or three variations. That’s really how I learned to play – playing along to Jimmy Reed records.”

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Jagger’s harmonica

Mick Jagger has always credited the harmonica as one of the earliest tools that shaped his identity as a blues singer, yet he admits he can’t pinpoint exactly when he first picked it up. What he does remember vividly is the competitive spark that pushed him forward—especially with Brian Jones. Just as Keith Richards sparred with Brian on guitar, Mick and Brian had their own quiet duel on harmonica. That rivalry pushed Mick to figure things out quickly, including the crucial—and expensive—lesson that a real harmonica player needs a whole arsenal of instruments in different keys.

Without them, you were stuck. And even when you had them, the delicate reeds often broke or arrived poorly made, turning the instrument into a constant balancing act of maintenance and practice. Still, the challenge drew Mick in deeper. His fascination, paired with his determination to improve, led him to chase the sound of his heroes, especially Little Walter, even before he fully understood the mechanics of the instrument.

Learning Through Watching and Listening

One of the biggest influences on Jagger’s harmonica journey was Cyril Davies, though not in the way Mick hoped. Davies refused to teach him directly, leaving Mick to learn by observation alone—chatting, watching, and silently studying every move. The harmonica, unlike a keyboard or guitar, doesn’t lend itself to easy explanations. You can’t point to notes or positions; so much of the technique happens inside the mouth, invisible and instinctive. With no real guidance available, and tutors or instruction books still uncommon, Mick built his skills the way many blues musicians did—by playing along to records. Jimmy Reed became his primary teacher, his limited palette of keys allowing Mick to practice with just one harmonica and slowly unlock its secrets.

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