Re: [Harp-L] Georgia - Which Harp?

[Joe and Cass Leone <leone@xxxxxxxx>]

On Sep 1, 2005, at 2:48 PM, CHARLES BASSI wrote:

> You need a harp with "5 draw raised a half-step
>  (ie, Lee Oskar Melody Maker, Special 20 Country Tuned, or do it 
> yourself)
>  to play it in crossharp. You could also play it in first postion, or 
> use a chromatic.

 I buy only stock harps, and file them myself (gently) with emory 
boards.
> That said, on Willie Nelson's Stardust album, Mickey Rafael
>  played a solo on Georgia on a regular diatonic in cross harp
>  - but he avoided (because it wasn't available to him) the note which 
> is
> raised draw on #5 (F# in the key of G - the major 7th).

 That note is VERY important and is probably the MOST important in the 
song. To avoid it, shows ...well, to be truthful, 'I' couldn't do that.
> I suppose you could overblow this note - or play a solo which
> doesn't follow the melody exactly.

 Overblowing this note is not authentic, as it is better to start 
'slightly' UNDER the sharp with a bend on the 5th reed almost back to 
it's original natural and gradually slur UP and bring the note into the 
sharp.
> And I'm sure some other harpers out there have other positions
> they play Georgia in.
>
> I believe Ray Charles' version is in G, by the way.

 That's true, but it was originally written in F. To play it in G 
switch to a C harp and as I said earlier, with the 5th draw raised the 
1/2 tone to a sharp. I sing it and play it in G (spah 2002) but most 
bands will look at you questioningly if you do.

smokey-joe & the Cafe s


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