[Harp-L] Country tuning

[Captron100@xxxxxxx]

In a message dated 11/19/2005 5:33:56 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,  
harp-l-request@xxxxxxxxxx writes:

So I  suppose my question is; is anyone  
familiar with this tuning playing  country & are there any specific  country 
songs 
to which the  major 7th tuning is almost indispensable?
While I'm on the  subject, are there any worthwhile  instructionals 
(books, video  etc)
on playing country harp available? I'm aware that Charlie McCoy has  one  & 
also Mike Stevens. Has anyone tried these? Any & all  suggestions  welcome,
Regards,
Will


Will, i frequently use Country Tuned harps.  Whenever i accompany  someone 
when i don't know the song intimately, i usually stick my CT harp in my  armpit 
in case i need to switch mid-song.  
  If u play melodies a lot, u should run into lots of instances where  the CT 
is more useful.  U can get the notes by using OB's but the CT harps  allow u 
to get the notes easily and sweetly bend, etc.   Re  examples of songs i use 
them in, there are so many; and the song doesn't have to  be country.  Off the 
top of my head, try playing the Willie Nelson song,  Crazy.  If i think of 
other examples, i'll try to post them.
  Re instructionals, tho CT's are covered in the one Charlie McCoy  
instructional tape i saw, it didn't specifically instruct how to play on CT  harps.  
But if u listen to Charlies recordings, u will hear a  lot of usage. 
 U can go to Charlie's website and download his key sheet, which tells  u 
what harps he used in every song of every one of his records.  U'll see  Charlie 
uses them a lot.  U can take it from there.
ron