Re: [Harp-L] "As The Sweat Begins To Roll"

["Mike and Beverly Rogers" <mbrogers@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

This is a nightmare, that I have experienced many times.  I'm blind, and
have no set list, so I rely on others, to cue me.  I was in a pit band for a
gospel group, where the leader often changed keys, without notifying folks.
My band is pretty good about keeping me straight.  I wear a custom made
belt, that carrys nine harps.  It slips into my regular belt, and keeps the
harps in front of me.  this makes it easy to change in a hurry  If I'm not
sure, I quietly hit the root note, for quick reference.  Best wishes.
bullfrog
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Reach Mann" <imreach@xxxxxxxxx>
To: <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Wednesday, April 27, 2005 11:30 PM
Subject: [Harp-L] "As The Sweat Begins To Roll"


> . . . so we had one forty minute set to play some back
> porch Delta blues at a harp festival and we wanted to
> get it right. Hadn't played with these guys in a year
> and a half. A few rehearsals and some co-ordinating
> the set list and we were ready. The day before the gig
> I handed my set list to our guitar player and asked
> him if all the keys were right. It was handed back
> with an OK.
> Now, a few days before (guitar player is a doctor) I
> had noticed that his handwriting made an E look like
> an F because in his haste he left off the line on the
> bottom of the E so I corrected it. OK, so there we
> were playing the gig, had twelve songs, and here's the
> hitch. At the beginning of the gig my set list got
> switched and when we got to the tenth song, did you
> guess it, it was the one in E that said F. Here's
> where the sweat cometh fromith.
> Grabbed a B# and knew it was wrong after the first
> note.
> "Damn", says I to myself as I quickly double check the
> set list. It says "F" !! "Well it has to be right
> because I double checked it, so what's wrong" ? It
> didn't come to me.  Oh man, in overdrive, the video,
> audio and digital recordings are running, the crowd is
> packed and into it, I love this song and had worked up
> some good stuff, do I lean over and ask what key, eyes
> flash, no, he's too into it and I don't want to throw
> him off his grove, damn !!!
> I should know what key this is, no time to think.
> OK, make it work is the decision ! All this in two
> beats. But the wrong decision, "As The Sweat Begins To
> Roll." The right thing would have been to just
> remember the key. Bamm, gave it a quick thought and it
> didn't immediately come to me so I decided to find
> something that worked in Bb. After all the talk about
> positions I was pretty sure something was there so
> I'll just back off the mic till I find something and
> then just play easy as I stumble through to the
> end."heck, if I'm lucky I might even find something
> that works and still be able to wail." No luck Bubba !
> You looose BUCKWHEAT !
>  Well it sounded almost there some of the time, which
> equals sucks ! So I have two questions. (1) Where did
> the word clam evolve from ? and, (2) what the hell
> position is a Bb harp when the tune is in E ?
>                                   And the beat goes on
>                                   Have Fun
>                                   I play harp (as I
>                                   reach into my pocket
>                                   and flash one)
>                                     Reach
>
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