RE: [Harp-L] James Conway bagpipe simulating drone tuning

[James Conway <harp3333@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Ross,

Thanks for the kind words and for taking the time to watch/view my stuff!  No, I don't have any instructional stuff out..yet, but in the meantime, I'd advise you to check out some great instructional stuff from Irish harp master, Brendan Power. I know he has excellent material out for both diatonic and chromatic harmonica. He's a great player, teacher, customizer, and all-around good fellow!

Here's some tips to get started, not necessarily in this order:

-find another musician(s) to learn tunes, research, and play together.
- get familiar with the two main Irish tune formats: the jig and the reel
-get good tune books..I recommend the David Mallison series which includes: 100 Enduring Session Tunes, 100 Essential Session Tunes, 100 Endearing Session Tunes, and more...
-check out tunes and good info on the trad site: www.thesession.org
-listen to good recordings and try to lift melodies by ear. For harmonica, I enjoy lifting tunes from concertina players which is tonally very similar to the harmonica. I'd recommend recordings from Mary MacNamara, Noel Hill, Terry "Cuz" Teahan
- listen to the melodies long enough until you can hum or lilt them by memory, then take them to the harp.
-introduce yourself to "paddy-richter" tuning.
-get CDs from other Irish harp players like myself, Brendan Power, Mick Kinsella, Rick Epping, The Murphy Family, Eddie Clarke. Read the liner notes: there's often great harp tips in there.
-find local Irish sessions
-go to SPAH conventions
-lift with your legs..not your back!

Good luck!

cheers,
Jim Conway

harp3333@xxxxxxxxxxx
www.jamesconway.net

www.youtube.com/jamesconway01





Date: Tue, 14 Sep 2010 13:07:00 +0000
From: pdxharpdog@xxxxxxxxxxx
To: harp3333@xxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: [Harp-L] James Conway bagpipe simulating drone tuning



Only on Harp-L can you post a question asking about an expert and have the expert answer.  Thank you so much James! I am a big fan of your harp playing - and Celtic harmonica.  I saw you and Howard on a video from his school and am now hooked on Irish harmonica.  Any tips on how to get started.  My only source so far is a CD that Grant Dermody put out called Crossing that River - he has a couple of fiddle/harp tunes on it that I have been learning.  

Would appreciate any help. You have any instructional videos I could purchase from you?  

Thanks again for answering the post - I love this forum!

Best - Ross Macdonald
www.sassparillapdx.com


----- Original Message -----
From: "James Conway" <harp3333@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: pdxharpdog@xxxxxxxxxxx, harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Monday, September 13, 2010 8:06:29 PM
Subject: RE: [Harp-L] James Conway bagpipe simulating drone tuning





Hello Ross,

Thanks for checking out that youtube. It's a Low D Special 20 and I modified the following:

1 draw down from E to D
2 blow up from F# to A
3 draw and 7 draw down from C# to C

Play the drone out of the left side of your mouth and the melody out of the right. Enjoy!

cheers,
Jim Conway

harp3333@xxxxxxxxxxx
www.jamesconway.net

www.youtube.com/jamesconway01





> Date: Tue, 14 Sep 2010 02:57:18 +0000
> From: pdxharpdog@xxxxxxxxxxx
> To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: [Harp-L] James Conway bagpipe simulating drone tuning
> 
> I have been venturing out in my harp journey to begin to begin to learn some Irish music. I have watched James Conway on one of his Youtube Videos do a bagpipe drone and was wondering if anyone on the list knows how he tunes the low register to assist in getting the bagpipe drone sound? I am pretty sure it is not just a Richter tuned diatonic. 
> 
> Thanks . 
> 
> Ross Macdonald 
> www.sassparillapdx.com