[Harp-L] RE: Harp-L Digest, Vol 20, Issue 54




At 79, Minnie McEvoy attributes her positive outlook to "the babies" she 
tends at Conshohocken's Little Munchkins Learning Center, her smooth 
complexion to L'Oreal's Wrinkle Defense cream and her harmonica skills to 
seven decades of practice.

What a nice story, I think I have found my role model.  I wish I had started
playing when I was a little girl.  I might be pretty good by now.
Thanks for sharing it.
Gail









 

-----Original Message-----
From: harp-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx [mailto:harp-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf
Of harp-l-request@xxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Saturday, April 16, 2005 8:15 AM
To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Harp-L Digest, Vol 20, Issue 54

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Today's Topics:

   1. Re: Fwd:  [Harp-L] Mighty funny (question for Chris) (G)
   2. Re: If you're happy and you know it..... :-) (fjm)
   3. Harmonica Article (Rooty Baegga)
   4. Re: tuning limits (G)
   5. Re: If you're happy and you know it..... :-) (Mark Wilson)
   6. Re: Digest Number 1700 (Tajinamman)
   7. amps (SONNYTONE@xxxxxxx)
   8. Re: overblow-tongueblock combination  (Ludo Beckers)
   9. Re: DOUG TATE (bobg@xxxxxxx)
  10. sonny's amps (Justin Holly)
  11. Re: overblow-tongueblock combination (backbender1)
  12. RE: My Name Is Rooty and I Am a Harmonica Owner (Bill Hines)


----------------------------------------------------------------------

Message: 1
Date: Sat, 16 Apr 2005 14:36:16 +1200
From: G <gigs@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: Fwd:  [Harp-L] Mighty funny (question for Chris)
To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
Message-ID: <3.0.3.32.20050416143616.006e98c4@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Date: Fri, 15 Apr 2005 15:08:44 -0700 (PDT)
From: Michael Fugazzi <mfugazzi67@xxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: Fwd:  [Harp-L] Mighty funny (question for Chris)

>8<
>Personally, I try to avoid a lot of headshaking.  It should be done in
small doses.  I saw a great player a couple months ago from a band that
plays pretty much full time.  He used a headshake in almost every verse he
played.  It was very distracting for me since everything he played around it
was so full of tone and colorful.  It was kind of a let down.
> 
>Mike

 I have had a lot of trouble with my back and neck, so I avoid shaking my
head for head shakes. Despite professional advice to the contrary I've found
I get an effective and smooth "headshake"/warble using my hands, my head and
neck remain relaxed but still.  

Richard Hunter's headshake/warbles are crisp and precise - he's really paid
his dues, and it shows.  
  Ask him how he does it.

-- G.




------------------------------

Message: 2
Date: Fri, 15 Apr 2005 19:37:42 -0700
From: fjm <mktspot@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: [Harp-L] If you're happy and you know it..... :-)
To: h-l <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Message-ID: <42607A76.7070005@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

Icemaan writes:
> um, that was in the 2 draw.

Well thank goodness for that.  I tried it once and went huh, what was he
thinking?  Mark not Larry.  fjm


------------------------------

Message: 3
Date: Fri, 15 Apr 2005 23:14:24 -0400
From: Rooty Baegga <rootybaegga@xxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [Harp-L] Harmonica Article
To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
Message-ID: <6.2.1.2.0.20050415230953.05cf9150@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed

http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?BRD=1306&dept_id=187819&newsid=14354986&P
AG=461&rfi=9

04/15/2005

Musical skills just one key to Boro woman's positive outlook
By: M. English

At 79, Minnie McEvoy attributes her positive outlook to "the babies" she 
tends at Conshohocken's Little Munchkins Learning Center, her smooth 
complexion to L'Oreal's Wrinkle Defense cream and her harmonica skills to 
seven decades of practice.

The Conshohocken woman bought her first harmonica when she was an 
8-year-old growing up near Norristown's Airy and Walnut streets in the 
mid-1930s. These days, she mostly plays for her own amusement. But she also 
relishes her role as a performer with Music Makers, a senior chorus based 
at Conshohocken's Marshall Lee Towers.

"It's a shame more people don't know about us," said McEvoy, who joined the 
group shortly after she'd moved to the Towers from her longtime home on the 
borough's West 10th Avenue last May. "We're not professionals, but the 
people who do come out to hear us tell us we put on a good show."

McEvoy managed that and then some for one recent visitor, mouthing and 
swaying her way through a whole roster of folksy favorites like "Home on 
the Range," "Good Night, Irene" and "Amazing Grace."

Good?

Absolutely.

"Oh ... I think I'm really just OK," she protested. "I just love doing it. 
And I've been playing for so long, I guess you're bound to pick up a few 
things along the way.

"How did I get started? Well, my brother used to send me to get his cigars 
at the corner store. He'd give me a dime for going and I usually used it to 
buy candy. But one day, I spotted this harmonica up on a shelf, and I 
decided I had to have it. I loved the sound from hearing people play on the 
radio, and it was like my dream."

McEvoy began hoarding dimes. Then - "much to my surprise" - she discovered 
the shiny little GLH Hohner International with the fancy plastic case cost 
an affordable 10 cents. "Plus 2 cents tax," she said.

"I was so thrilled," she said. "I was the youngest of eight children and we 
didn't have a whole lot. It was the Depression. And it was rough being the 
youngest, especially when my mom got sick with cancer. She died when I was 
11, and then my old Italian grandmother took care of me. She did her best, 
God bless her. She was a good lady."

McEvoy owns four harmonicas. But her original is "still in great shape, 
except for one little nick" and she treasures it now as much as she did 
during her childhood:

"I played by ear, I guess you'd say. Now, I have some books that show you 
where the different notes are, but I mainly play by ear. I learned a lot by 
listening to the radio, too. It was just fun.

"What else did I do for fun? Oh, I don't know. I remember I loved eating 
bananas as a kid. I'd eat three a day if I could get away with it. We all 
played outside a lot, too. I grew up two blocks from Tommy Lasorda - you 
know, the baseball guy. He's a big deal now, but you should have seen him 
back then. He was a real devil."

McEvoy smiles at another childhood memory - her winning vocal rendition of 
"The Woodpecker's Song" during a talent show at Norristown's old Garrick 
Theatre.

"I read about it in the paper and I walked up there from Walnut Street - 
all the way to West Main and Marshall [streets] all by myself - to try 
out," she said. "I was just a little thing. Fourteen-years old and, maybe, 
90 pounds.

"My mother was dead so I didn't have anybody to tell me how to dress or 
act. But I rigged up a nice dress and wore my saddle shoes. I went to the 
try-outs on Friday and then I went back for the show that Saturday. I was 
pretty nervous because they booed the daylights out of an 18-year-old who 
went before me. I guess I did OK, though, because everybody clapped, and I 
won $5. The next day I went to Chatlin's department store and bought a new 
dress and a pair of shoes. I even got change back.

"That was a big deal for me. I had a part-time job, pairing socks at [a 
woolen mill] on East Main Street for 25 cents an hour while I was in junior 
high, but money was always tight."

McEvoy also found plenty to keep her busy at Rittenhouse Junior High and 
Norristown High schools:
"I played volleyball and ran track and sang in the choirs and glee clubs. I 
was in shows, too. I loved being part of stuff. I guess I liked the
attention."

Following her 1944 high school graduation, the local woman worked as a 
sales clerk at Chatlin's and, later, an inspector at Miquon's Hamilton 
Paper Co. After marrying her late husband, James, in 1951, she stayed home 
to care for their three children. She took a job with Montgomery Hospital's 
housekeeping department in the early 1980s and retired in 1997. A year 
later, she joined the Little Munchkins staff.

"I take the bus back and forth and, if it's nice, I get off up the street 
and walk the extra blocks for exercise," said McEvoy, who also has six 
grandchildren. "I'll be there seven years in May and I just love it. Those 
babies are the apple of my eye. You just pick them up, give them a little 
hug, a little song, and they're happy. They're so cuddly and cute, and they 
make you feel so great. I love them. Oh, my goodness. I think about them 
when I'm not there and I don't ever want to leave.

"I never take off. Four years ago, I even had a cardiac catheterization 
done on Friday and went back to school without missing any time. That's how 
much I love it. I always look forward to seeing the kids."

At the moment, McEvoy is also looking forward to her 61st high school class 
reunion, perfecting a harmonica version of her alma mater's signature song, 
"Blue and White," and hoping she has an opportunity to share it with fellow 
alums at their April 9 get-together at Westover Country Club.

"I don't want to be pushy or anything, but I really would enjoy that," she 
said.

Music Makers' next public concert is loosely scheduled for "mid-May." In 
the meantime, members will meet for an informal group luncheon in Marshall 
Lee Towers' community room, Third Avenue and Fayette Street, this Saturday 
at 11 a.m. Seniors interested in performing with the group are welcome to 
join them. Male singers are particularly needed.

=========================================
Rooty Baegga

Join The Debating Team.  No subject off-limits.
Politics, Music, Automobiles -- Anything at all!
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/The_Debating_Team/
or send an email to:
The_Debating_Team-subscribe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
=========================================




------------------------------

Message: 4
Date: Sat, 16 Apr 2005 15:32:05 +1200
From: G <gigs@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: [Harp-L] tuning limits
To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
Message-ID: <3.0.3.32.20050416153205.006ea904@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Date: Thu, 14 Apr 2005 18:13:19 -0700 (PDT)
From: Paul Bowering <paul_bowering@xxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [Harp-L] tuning limits
To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx

>I'm experimenting with some altered tunings and I'm
>wondering how many semi-tones a reed can reasonably be
>retuned before you risk failure? Can lower picthed
>reeds withstand greater deviations from its original
>pitch than higher reeds? Does it matter if tuning up
>or down, etc.
>
>Paul 

Hi Paul,
  The answer is complex.  
  When removing material I find that I can lower the pitch of reeds a great
deal more than I can raise them before their performance suffers.   
  With the highest reeds, say the top reeds of a key of C 270, it takes
care to raise them even a semitone, if you remove too much brass in the
process the pitch starts to go ~down~, except when you play it very very
gently and it'll play very high - the problem is the end of the reed can no
longer handle the force flops around.
  At the other end of the spectrum I've found I can lower the lowest reeds
by 4 or even 5 semitones, by removing material at the root of the reed.
Eg. Tenor C 270, or Super 64X bottom octave.

As for an average reed, depending on their pitch relative to their
dimensions, they can generally (with care) be raised up by a minor third -
I know some people have successfully raised them by more, but I've found
its more efficient to simply replace reeds that need to by raised by a
major third or more.

  I've found that lowering the pitch of reeds is easier: you don't need to
worry about catching the tip of the reed which can lead to ruining the reed
in the blink of an eye; I can lower the pitch of the reed further than you
can raise it before the reed's performance suffers; and theres the happy
side effect that any tuning gashes can be polished out while you're tuning
the reed down.  

I've had people approach me privately saying they don't know what I'm
talking about when I mention "tuning gashes" ... in not so many words. So
I've put up a very clear image and an explanation here
http://www.angelfire.com/music/harmonica/tuninggashes.html

To summise, in general when retuning a harmonica, the more extreme the
change, the more I prefer to start with reeds that are higher in pitch than
what I need, rather than something lower.  There are exceptions, and there
are aspects to take into account when working out the most efficient
approach. Barely a hard and fast rule.

More related information here
http://www.angelfire.com/music/harmonica/harptechtips.html

Cheers,
-- G.



------------------------------

Message: 5
Date: Fri, 15 Apr 2005 20:47:15 -0700
From: "Mark Wilson" <markwilson53@xxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: [Harp-L] If you're happy and you know it..... :-)
To: <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Message-ID: <004a01c54236$fb0f7a90$6401a8c0@markrdk0fk4qu1>
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
	reply-type=response


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "fjm" <mktspot@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: "h-l" <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Friday, April 15, 2005 7:37 PM
Subject: Re: [Harp-L] If you're happy and you know it..... :-)


> Icemaan writes:
>> um, that was in the 2 draw.
>
> Well thank goodness for that.  I tried it once and went huh, what was he 
> thinking?  Mark not Larry.  fjm

Ya, I should have pulled out a harp before I posted.  Here's another one 
that Gindick uses.
It's a 1st position major scale.  It's not too tough, to get it right you 
have to hit a couple of accurate
2 & 3 draw bends.

1B 1D 2B 2D** 2D 3D** 3D 4B.

Think do re mi fa so la ti do while you're playing it.

Mark 




------------------------------

Message: 6
Date: Sat, 16 Apr 2005 08:00:28 +0300
From: Tajinamman <grooveking@xxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [Harp-L] Re: Digest Number 1700
To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
Message-ID: <94b2df4205041522004385642b@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

I'd also look at the Clark Congaree 4-10 harp amp. There is a review
of Harmony Central from a guy who sounds like he knows his stuff...


---------------------
Message: 22
  Date: Fri, 15 Apr 2005 15:14:45 -0700
  From: Ray Beltran <raybeltran@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [Harp-L] Re: Another Gear Orbit..which 4x10?

JDay-

If you're considering all choices, don't be forgettin' Mojo:

http://www.mojomusicalsupply.com/cgi-bin/mojotone/5550003.html

Their  Bassman repro, although not a harp-specific amp, is (IMHO) a
better value than the Fender LTD. For an extra $200, they'll put the
kit together for you. Put a 12AY7 in the first preamp position (just
like the originals), and you're good to go.

I had Mojo build my Twin:

http://resgraphics.com/music-gear.html

They did a fine job. Most people aren't aware of this, buy many
boutique amp builders buy many of their components from Mojo. For
instance, Vicky (among others) use Mojo's repro cabs. That's just the
tip of the iceberg, I'm told...

Ray.
www.resgraphics.com/music

On Apr 14, 2005, at 11:03 PM, harp-l-request@xxxxxxxxxx wrote:



------------------------------

Message: 7
Date: Sat, 16 Apr 2005 03:49:51 EDT
From: SONNYTONE@xxxxxxx
Subject: [Harp-L] amps
To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
Message-ID: <1aa.361cd2b8.2f921d9f@xxxxxxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

I have 85 people who own a Sonny Jr 410 with great reviews, do you think I  
am going to have them all post on harpL, of course not. Know WHO has built
your 
 amp, what their customer service record is, what their honesty about their 
lead  time has been, any experiences on how they were handled if an amp
needed  
service, and most of all, if you can get a chance to play one yourself, that

would be a key. I try and link guys with other players who own one, of
course 
 asking the owner first, that can be intrusive, but some owners are  so 
grateful they are happy to help out. As Jimmy Durante said, Everybody  wants
to get 
into the act< so no doubt there will be other guys now building  amps and 
other guys as their horns honking its praises. I have found the  more amps
that 
come out the better ours does, because it allows guys to compare  and ours
has 
always shined. That said, most of my customers do not spend time on  HarpL
so 
it will not be flooded. If you want to see the most outrageous review  of my

amp, email me, the fellow had a true religious experience, of course after  
owning several other amps along the way. Good luck to all. 


------------------------------

Message: 8
Date: Sat, 16 Apr 2005 11:59:13 +0100 (BST)
From: Ludo Beckers <ludobeckers@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [Harp-L] Re: overblow-tongueblock combination 
To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
Message-ID: <20050416105913.23130.qmail@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1


<<one of the people with his finger on the pulse of bandwidth 
and harp-l resources. fjm

Thanks for that, fjm

I just listened to Dennis's "Jump Time" and "That's Right" again, and to my
surprise each cd has only one track with an overblow. ("Take a Step" and
"Wonderful Time").

And... it's a hole 6 as well, which, according to some, doesn't really count
;-)

By that I don't mean to say anything demeaning about Dennis's playing
though, ofcourse. I find him a very tastefull, richtoned, inventive and
swinging player! 

I do wonder though if he has cd's where there's more tongue blocked
overblowing going on (Dennis?)  

I did find out, picking up my low harps today, that on these low ones the
overdraws came quite easy with tongue block. So, I'm on my way to something
new (for me anyway).

Ludo


Send instant messages to your online friends http://uk.messenger.yahoo.com 

------------------------------

Message: 9
Date: Sat, 16 Apr 2005 07:03:44 -0400
From: bobg@xxxxxxx
Subject: [Harp-L] Re: DOUG TATE
To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
Cc: Douglas Tate <douglas.tate@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Message-ID: <1113649424.4260f110da1d6@xxxxxxxxxxx:443>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

Randy Singer wrote:
>HOW IS DOUG TATE????

Randy and all,

Since I talk and email with him nearly every day, I know Doug's wishing the 
doctors would hurry up and schedule his procedure, because he's bored tired 
of "taking it easy" while he waits, and the interim meds they want him on 
annoyingly force him to!  He's very eager to get back in the swing of 
things.

Nope, he's actually doing pretty well, just getting a bit ornery with the 
waiting; and so am I... [Doug's no fun when he's even more ornery!!]  :)))  
He does appreciate all the kind thoughts on his behalf, but, I assure you, 
he'd really rather you all play harmonica more and worry less!  ;)

Cheers from ILUS!
Bobbie




------------------------------

Message: 10
Date: Sat, 16 Apr 2005 13:04:56 +0100 (BST)
From: Justin Holly <justinaholly@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [Harp-L] sonny's amps
To: Harp-L@xxxxxxxxxx
Message-ID: <20050416120456.28570.qmail@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1

i have recently purchased a 60's brown face concert
from sonny, and although it isn't one of his bassmans
he paid enormous care and attention in making sure i
was involved every step of the way.

his workmanship is exemplary and his enthusiasm
boundless. 

i play in the UK an gig 3-4 times a week so i need an
amp that i can trust. And as with many things in life
the trust is built with the man and not the
machine..... 

Justin

Send instant messages to your online friends http://uk.messenger.yahoo.com 


------------------------------

Message: 11
Date: Sat, 16 Apr 2005 05:05:30 -0700 (PDT)
From: backbender1 <backbender1@xxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [Harp-L] Re: overblow-tongueblock combination
To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
Message-ID: <20050416120530.82966.qmail@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Hi -

This is true. However, this does not reflect my
current use of overblows. Remember the most recent of
these recordings you mentioned ("That's Right!") was
recorded 4-5 years ago.

I will gladly demonstrate more of this if I see you at
Buckeye or SPAH this year...or at one of Jon Gindick's
Jam Camps...or at one of my gigs...

-Dennis Gruenling
www.dennisgruenling.com




_____________________________________________________________________
 just listened to Dennis's "Jump Time" and "That's
Right" again, and to my surprise each cd has only one
track with an overblow. ("Take a Step" and "Wonderful
Time").

And... it's a hole 6 as well, which, according to
some, doesn't really count ;-)

By that I don't mean to say anything demeaning about
Dennis's playing though, ofcourse. I find him a very
tastefull, richtoned, inventive and swinging player! 

I do wonder though if he has cd's where there's more
tongue blocked overblowing going on (Dennis?)  



__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Tired of spam?  Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around 
http://mail.yahoo.com 


------------------------------

Message: 12
Date: Sat, 16 Apr 2005 08:13:32 -0400
From: "Bill Hines" <billhines4@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: RE: [Harp-L] My Name Is Rooty and I Am a Harmonica Owner
To: "'Rooty Baegga'" <rootybaegga@xxxxxxxxx>, <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Message-ID: <000301c5427d$b534aa80$6801a8c0@HinesIBMA50p>
Keywords: Personal
Content-Type: text/plain;	charset="US-ASCII"

Rooty,

I think your next step should be to get some guided assistance on your
quest. It's noble to learn all by yourself, but can be a bit frustrating
and lonely. I'd recommend getting Jon Gindick's Rock n' Blues Harmonica
(at half.com for $17
http://half.ebay.com/search/search.jsp?nthTime=1&product=all&keyword=gin
dick&x=0&y=0), it's a very fun and entertaining book/cd that is
certainly something that you would enjoy, given your own excellent sense
of humor! You'll like the story of Stone and the Caveboys as you learn,
and it will teach not only blues, but some rock, folk, etc. Takes you
from ground zero up through first, second, third position and teach you
the required basics of basic music theory and chord progressions. The CD
will let you hear what things in the book should sound like, quite
useful. Jerry Portnoy's Masterclass 3-cd and book set it excellent too
but more expensive. Paul Butterfield also has a pretty short book/CD
that I think is good, but it leaves you hanging in a lot of places.
Check amazon.com, half.com, or ebay for those.

Short of that, go to many of the instructional places on the internet
for free. I don't like harmonicalessons.com much (except for lots of
tabs). This site has a listing of them: http://www.harplinks.com/EDU.php
and I like this site, really start here because this one has it all from
start to finish: http://www.angelfire.com/tx/myquill/Harmonica.html.
Also go to Jon Gindick's site for a lot of free lessons and audio files
and there is a discussion board there as well where you can ask
questions, etc. It's a treasure trove of stuff for the beginner, so I
highly recommend that one too.

Welcome to the club Rooty!!

-----Original Message-----
From: harp-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx [mailto:harp-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx] On
Behalf Of Rooty Baegga
Sent: Friday, April 15, 2005 10:12 PM
To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [Harp-L] My Name Is Rooty and I Am a Harmonica Owner


My Name Is Rooty and I Am a Harmonica Owner.  I bought a harmonica
today.

Because I know none of you will be able to sleep until you hear all
about 
it, I thought I'd spare you a sleepless night.

I went to my local musical instrument emporium to see what they had in 
stock.  I blanched when I saw the starting price of 12-hole chromatics 
($149.99 and up, but that's Canadian money).  I knew my budget was not 
going to withstand that.

That left my choices to be either a diatonic, or a diatonic.

I chose to get a diatonic.

I asked to see a number of them, including the recommended Horner
Special 
20.  I must have looked like such a dork, opening each harmonica case to

look at them.  To these eyes, they all looked pretty much the same.
Then I 
cradled each one in my two hands the way I've seen harmonica players do 
since the beginning of time.  To these hands, they all pretty much felt
the 
same.  I don't think I fooled the gentleman waiting on me at all.

To be perfectly honest, so many people recommended the Special 20, I had

already decided this would be the one for me.  However, they didn't have
it 
in the Key of C.  Being an instant gratification kind of guy, I started 
looking at the ones they *DID* have in C, because almost everyone said
that 
was the best key in which to buy a starter harmonica *AND* I wasn't
leaving 
there without a harmonica.

I eventually settled on a Horner Blues Harp MS.  Why?  To begin with, it

felt just as good as any other when I held it.  Secondly, and this was
the 
clincher, the guy behind the counter (who was really, really old.  From
all 
the framed newspaper articles and 8x10s on the wall I gleaned he was the

founder of the store way back when) told me that it was easier than any
of 
the other models for bending notes.  Say no more!!!

I also figured that at $29.99 (Canadian money still), it didn't break
the 
budget and I can always get a Special 20 in the Key of C, or any other
key 
of my choosing, at the same price later.

I haven't had a lot of time with it on my lips yet (less than 10 minutes

overall), but I am already frustrated.  I've been trying to pick out
Mary 
Had A Little Lamb on it.  I have the first note....I just don't know
where 
to go from there.  Moreover, I am not even sure it's the right first 
note.  DAMN!!!  This is going to be harder than I thought.  I learned
that 
song within 5 minutes on the touch-tone phone.

I was going to try and pick out the scale, until I realized that I only
had 
the white keys on the piano.

To quote Lenny Bruce: You need the white keys and the darkies to play
The 
Star Spangled Banner.

Any advice for where I should go from here?

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Rooty Baegga

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End of Harp-L Digest, Vol 20, Issue 54
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