[Harp-L] RE: Why not become a real musician?

[Robert Coble <robertpcoble@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

The Iceman asks (rhetorically, or tongue in cheek, I suppose):
> 
> Why not become a real musician as well as one that plays harmonica?
>  
in response to:
> 
> I think  the potential for harmonica to play a more important supporting 
> role is  there.
> 

INDEED!

My last gig was Thursday, with keyboards, bass and another harmonica player.
We had played the venue in February for Valentine's Day, playing a couple of
sets of love songs. We were asked back to play gospel. (We'll play just about 
anything, if it interests us.)

The other harmonica player plays chromatics; I play Seydel Circular Tuned 
diatonics. Neither of us is a proficient sight reader; we mostly play by ear. I
only took the lead a couple of times. The rest of the time, I was playing 
improvised harmony lines.

The associate pastor (this was an OPAL meeting at a Methodist church) gave
us a lot of kudos afterwards. One of the nicest things was that he was surprised 
to hear the harmony lines against the melody from a (GASP!) harmonica player.
(He is proficient on guitar and keyboards.)

I think the blend of two harmonicas with keyboards and bass provide a distinctive
sound, allowing for combinations that are not often heard. (A pun: I'm not often
"herd" either; I follow my own muse.) However, it's BORING to double the melody
line with two harps. The diatonic and the chromatic don't compete, we complement
each other. When one of us goes high, the other goes low. If I can't improvise a
good harmony line, I chug on beats 2 and 4 (and sometimes double chug, to give
more "push" to the sound).

I've spent a considerable amount of time studying theory. Does it help ME? YES!
It has helped ME understand and expand on the possibilities available. It is NOT
limiting in any way.

And no, I don't have any CDs or examples to share. We play strictly for fun, and 
when it stops being fun, I'm done. Okay, there IS a short YouTube clip from a 
practice session, but I had nothing to do with it being on YouTube. It's breath-
takingly BAD! If you're into painful experiences, try: 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iki3gq_ptsA

(I'm the OLWG chugging away on diatonic on the left. Ferd Carson is the chromatic 
player in the back, my oldest brother Roy Coble is the keyboardist, and my cousin 
Ed Hammer is the bassist. We had a visitor who recorded this clip on his phone.)

BTW, I couldn't help ROTFLMAO at Warren Bee's "comb" discussion. It was GREAT!

All the best to all of you, who inspire me! Someday, I'll really learn how to play!
Crazy Bob
All the best!


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