Re: Irish music on the XB-40

["Stephen Shaw" <moorcot@xxxxxxx>]

>From: "james conway" <harp3333@xxxxxxxxxxx>
>On the train ride to the Dallas SPAH I had the pleasure of trying out an 
>XB-40 in the key of G, and I found the harp to be an excellent axe for 
>Irish tunes.
>It has good volume and I'd say it'll have no problem being heard along with 
>other instruments at an unplugged Irish session. When Rick Epping plays the 
>XB in the rack with his concertina(a relatively loud instrument), it can be 
>heard loud and clear. I'm looking forward to testing it in my neck rack 
>while I play guitar, and taking it out to some  Irish sessions.>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>Lastly, the XB worked like a champ on Irish tunes that modulate or
>have a lot of accidentals.>>>>>>>>>>
<<<<<<<< I tried a tune called "The Flogging Reel"
>which is in G major and has a phrase in it that uses an F natural.  This a 
>phrase in which there's jumps from non-adjacent holes, so it's a good 
>opportunity for tongue-switching, which for me is really tricky while using 
>overblows/overdraws. On the XB, the phrase came out beautifully with no 
>rhythm or melody problems. This opens up the door for me on a lot of tunes. 
>I can't wait to get a few keys of this harp.
>cheers,
>James
>www.jimmyconway.com

List members have just persuaded me to buy the Jerry Portnoy CD set.....and 
now this.  I can see I'm going to have to get a G and a D.  Excuse me while 
I just go and remortgage my house!

Steve Shaw.

Want more than the blues?  Try Irish!
http://mysite.freeserve.com/trad_irish_harmonica

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