Re: [Harp-L] FW: Dorian tuned alternative

["John Kerkhoven" <solo_danswer@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Charlie Musselwhite plays Cm on a Bb harp almost entirely in the lower
octave on 'Talk About Suffering', track 3 of the Blind Boys of Alabama's
2005 recording, Atom Bomb. Similarly, on track 6, 'Spirit in the Sky',
Musselwhite plays Am on a G harp, hanging in the lower octave.

No doubt there are numerous good examples out there. A friend just lent me
this disk, so these tracks come quickly to mind. I believe these are good
examples of the kind of thing JR is talking about.

Gotta admit, though, that I'd like at least to hear what a Dorian tuned harp
sounds like. How bad can it be? :-)

John



> Just Play your regular tuned harp in 3rd position. If you are in Dm for
> example play a C major scale starting on the second note of the scale (D)
> and play up and down using those C major scale intervals thru all three
> octaves. In the first octave you will have to have your two draw whole
step
> bend (the Flat 3rd of D) down and your 3 draw whole step bend ( the five
of
> the a D major scale) down too really good. But these bends add so much
> character and style too the mode that you will end up wishing you needed
> them in the second and third octave. There are so many wonderful bending
> inflections and glissandos that can only happen as a result of these bends
> that after using them you would never want a DORIAN TUNED HARP. get some
one
> to just play a Dm chord with no time established...Just wash out the chord
> and see how mysterious it sounds. Additionally you might find the sixth
note
> of the scale the 3 draw sounds a little weird at first....It's just your
> blues brain imprisoning you to mediocrity. Fight it and hold that note or
> even start your runs/licks on it. You will find this( 3 draw) note is a
huge
> part of the color and personality of the scale and although it is a major
> 6th in D it is incredibly Minor sounding and very ominous and beautiful.
>
> Thanks Love you all see you at Spah!
> Jason HYPERLINK "http://www.jasonricci.com"www.jasonricci.com
>
>
>