Re: Newbee Qs

[Gatorharp@xxxxxxx]

n0tu@xxxxxxxxxxx writes:

<< -How do you keep your lips from drying out and sticking to the harp? ...as 
I
 slide from the 6D to 5D4D3D my lips are still clinging to 6!  ...Seems like
 if you're constantly wetting your lips it interrupts your playing? (Live in
 a dry climate - CO)>>
someone mentioned avoiding alcohol.  that's good, but i've seen a lot of 
players drink and play without dry mouth or other incident (not me...i'm a 
teetotaler).  a tip i picked up from the list a while ago is to drink water 
(or unsweetened tea) with lemon...the citric acid helps your mouth to produce 
saliva.  lime may work, too, but not orange.  
 
<< -Harps so many types?  Life is short which is best for accoustic blues? 
Why? >>
try as many as you can, and you'll find the one ~you~ like best.  there are 
pro players who play highly customized harps that cost in the area of $100 a 
pop, and there are pros who play cheap, cheap harps and toss 'em after a gig. 
 find what feels and sounds good to you.
 
<< -I have long bony fingers and I'm trying to get a "good" air tight hand 
cup!
 It seems no matter how hard I try - a solid air tight cup is not possible?
 If I squeeze really hard I can come close but my hands get exhausted after a
 few tunes just trying to hold that tight cup? But I sure like the sound of
 tighter cup!! >>
time and practice.  also, don't feel the need to use a tight cup all the 
time.  a looser or no cup can sound good, too, and can serve as a contrast.
 
<< -Recommended CD library of Harp players? >>
what's your cup of tea?  you mentioned acoustic blues...recordings from john 
lee williamson (sonny boy williamson 1) or rice miller (sonny boy williamson 
2) are great places to start, especially the album keep it to ourselves by 
the latter.  
most anything by big walter horton, with mouth harp maestro, i think, being 
all or mostly acoustic.
nearly anything by little walter (though mostly amplified), junior wells, and 
james cotton would serve you well.  to ~me~, these are the foundation of 
blues playing.  you might also wanna check out slim harpo, lazy lester, and 
maybe even jimmy reed.  oh yeah, sonny terry.
there's a veritable deluge of players to follow them, depending on your 
tastes...kim wilson, william clarke, and paul delay are all great blues type 
players (although delay's music isn't purely blues...whatever that 
means...hahaha).  
peter madcat ruth, adam gussow, and carlos del junco are wonderful players 
who are rooted in the blues, but who take it all much further.  howard levy, 
if you want to get way out...so many more...

hope this is helpful and not rambling

steven j gatorman