RE: [Harp-L] walking the bass

["Rick Dempster" <rick.dempster@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Yes, good advice Michael. The best way of thinking of playing the V chord arpeggio (OK boogie line) in 2nd position(or the root  chord in 3rd position major as you've suggested) is as an opportunity to play some gutsy, funky sounding notes, BECAUSE you are bending, rather than just thinking of it as something difficult because you have to bend 'em; of course you first have to get to that stage of being able to do it convincingly. Isn't Big Walter's boogie thing the general model for most people in this department? (second position-wise anyhow)
RD

>>> Michael Peloquin <peloquinharp@xxxxxxxxxxx> 18/07/2008 1:54 >>>

Rainbow Jimmy writes:
>...the dominant-you have to hit a half step bend> then a whole step bend, hit them right and hit them on the beat. Damn.> Maybe harp switching would be easier.
RJ-
practice in 3rd position-MAJOR for a week, especially the bassline and simple, folksy melodies.
it will work wonders for your bends and intonation.
maybe even record yourself in comfort postion (cross) on a G harp  and then play to it and match it in 3rd on a C Harp. This gives you plenty of time in the first octave with precision on all those bends being necessary to sound  good. When you go back to cross harp, you will only need these skills for 1-1.5 bars out of every 12 in a blues.switching harps for 1 bar is a PITA!
Michael Peloquin http://www.harpsax.comhttp://www.myspace.com/harpsax_______________________________________________ 
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