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

["Dave Murray" <dlmurray@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

From: "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)>>

Cool web site Cara. When I have more time I'll read a while.

I listened to "Old Joe Clark" and have a couple of questions. When I grabbed 
my D harp to play it (Mixolydian A) to play along I think that I discovered 
that you must have been using a C harp since it seemed like you played in G. 
Am I hearing/not hearing things right? I usually play it down low on the 
harp, you played it way up at the top. Does that help you get heard, playing 
in that octave? I guess that that would be a good way for me to make friends 
with that end of the harp.

<< 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.>>

I bought the book "Teach yourself Bluegrass Fiddle" by Matt Glaser recently. 
It has a CD with a whole bunch of tunes, twice. Once with the fiddle, once 
without for you to play along. The book has interesting information about 
playing with the fiddle, which I don't, and the music in music notation, 
which I don't read. I bought it mostly so I can learn to play the tunes by 
ear while listening to a fiddler. It might be of interest to bluegrass 
harpers.

Peace and music,
Dave