Re: Playing in C

[PL500@xxxxxxx]

In a message dated 4/14/03 11:26:22 PM Eastern Daylight Time, 
coquiblues@xxxxxxxxxxx writes:


> hey y'all,
> 
>    ok, this may seem like a stupid question, but i need help. i'm playing 
> with a "band" of sorts and we're doing a few tunes in C. we can't change 
> the 
> key because the singer can't sing them in any other key (most of the other 
> songs are in G or D). i find C a real pain to play in, because it's either 
> regular F harp which is too high (hard to bend the low notes, the high 
> notes 
> call dogs) or a low F, which is OK on the high end but kind of boring, and 
> the low end is sluggish and easily lost in the mix. my parts are mostly 
> horn 
> parts, and i mostly need the C major scale plus Eb and Bb (and Gb 
> sometimes). any tips?
>    one thing i thought of for one song, at least, is to play chromatic. but 
> 
> i'm not proficient on chro really, and i'd just be learning those parts 
> (solos would be real tough), and i'd have to learn them fast...
>    the answer may be obvious (become a better player or layout...) but if 
> anyone has any tips or tricks, i'd welcome them.
> 
>     thanks in advance,
>                      --Jp
> 

Jp, 

Try 3rd position on the Bb harmonica. That will allow you to hit the C, Bb, 
and Eb without bends, as well as the Gb on the 3 draw fully bent, and the 6 
draw bent a half step down. The Eb is also hit with the 2 draw bent a whole 
step as well. For a chart on this try <A HREF="http://www.angelfire.com/tx/myquill/";>The Diatonic Harmonica Reference</A>. They 
have a Layout Generator that can help with all that stuff. 

Andrew