Re: [Harp-L] fiddle harp help... please

[Cara Cooke <cyberharp@xxxxxxxxx>]

You might look into Glen Weiser's book "American and Irish Fiddle tunes for 
the Harmonica". It seems to have a nice selection and can get you started. I 
have a few tabs and mp3's available on my website, too. (
www.cyberharp.isonfire.com <http://www.cyberharp.isonfire.com> -- page down 
a bit)
 Your best bet to get going with your new bluegrass buddies is to make notes 
of the tunes they commonly like to play and the keys in which they play them 
(for your future reference and your research). While you are doing that, 
work on playing good back up that blends with everyone else and does not 
distract from the music of the band or confuse the sound or rhythm. Taste 
would also dictate that you learn when you should play and when you should 
lay out. The ultimate objective is to contribute to the whole and detract 
from nothing. 
 Remember, no matter how long you have been playing harmonica, to them in 
this situation, you may be a beginner. Beginners usually sit on the edges of 
jams and work on chords and keeping rhythm for awhile before they get in and 
play tunes. And, since everyone knows that they are beginners, everyone 
usually helps them out. They may be willing and able to help you out once 
they realize you are a beginner who needs their help.
 Fiddlers are often a well of information on back-up, fills, and when to lay 
out. You don't have to ask them anything. Just watch them. If they are in 
too much, the rest of the group will grumble. If they aren't, they usually 
have a good feel for the right expression in the right places, so they are 
great studies.
 Fiddlers are also great to watch for learning tunes. They tend to play the 
melody line and then improvise. The picked instruments do not always. On 
banjo tunes, which often have more chording to them than melody, the fiddler 
usually finds something melody-like within it. So the fiddler may be a good 
guide all the way around in the session.
 The harmonica shares a lot with the fiddle, by the way. No instrument 
besides the harmonica and fiddle can play truly enlongated tones without 
restriking. Their voices also fall into similar registers. (If you cannot 
tell, I have learned a lot from fiddlers.)
 Once you have your list of tunes and keys, start looking for recordings of 
them (and notation, if you read music). The list of tunes will help you 
search for sound clips on the net and recordings in the stores and in the 
local library. The other musicians may have particular recordings for you to 
check out that may have their tune version on it. Ask them (after they are 
through playing, of course). The keys of the tunes will help you keep in 
step each session with the other players. They may even be the same keys the 
tune is played in on the recordings. (Some tunes have particular keys.) 
Eventually, as you learn more about keys and modes and the music theory that 
allows you to play in different keys and modes, you can add notes on what 
position(s) you prefer to use to play each tune.
 While learning their version of the tunes from them, start by listening for 
the overall melody and its direction, being careful to capture any moments 
that seem to stand out in the tune, so that you can devise a simple version 
of the tune which covers the "bases" and keeps you on track with them. (You 
may even want to record the sessions for reference.) That simple version you 
devise can be used in time as a baseline to follow for improvisation and/or 
the creation of a more ornate version once you get better at the tune.
 That bit of info should get you started. I would encourage you to visit 
SPAH this year in Kansas City for the seminar on Americana music. Some very 
good bluegrass/country fiddle tune players will be there at the convention, 
along with quite a few very good Irish tune players. It will be worth the 
experience.
 Cara Cooke
www.cyberharp.isonfire.com <http://www.cyberharp.isonfire.com> 

 On 6/22/05, EdnDoris1@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <EdnDoris1@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote: 
> 
> As a harp player I flatter myself by saying I'm an intermediate. I began
> playing about ten years ago, excited by the blues harp. Now of late I have
> been trying to play harp with some bluegrass bands. I'm only partly happy 
> with
> my contribution. Bluegrass is fast, and I just don't feel that I'm "with 
> it."
> Recently I've discovered the fiddle-harp style, and I think that's what 
> get
> me there. Can anyone out there point me in the direction of fiddle harp
> instruction ? - Online, CD's, whatever. Thanks ~Ed
> _______________________________________________
> Harp-L is sponsored by SPAH, http://www.spah.org
> Harp-L@xxxxxxxxxx
> http://harp-l.org/mailman/listinfo/harp-l
>