Re: [Harp-L] Bent overbends (was Suzuki Pure harp review)

["Chris Michalek" <chris@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I don't do it that much because to my ears it sounds terrible. I also can't stand the sound of the disreet comb or the XB-40.  If I'm playing arabic style music then I'm apt to start bending "odd" note but other wise the OB's are really used in a quick flurry of notes.  OBs in general are pretty weak notes.



>-----Original Message-----
>From: Paul Bowering [mailto:paul_bowering@xxxxxxxxx]
>Sent: Tuesday, August 8, 2006 03:27 PM
>To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
>Subject: [Harp-L] Bent overbends (was Suzuki Pure harp review)
>
>Chris M. wrote:
>
>>Bending the OBs up is a true problem because of the
>>short reeds. There are so few people that can 1.)
>>actually do it or 2.) hit the correct pitch or 3) can
>>do it but can't use it musically that I thought it
>>wasn't necessary to mention.
>
>I've loved the verstility of both the Overdrive and
>Discrete Comb. I use overbends for hitting a note
>crisply and 'valve' style bends for sliding into a
>note. Of course both these harp designs have their own
>quirks which make them a challenge to play.
>
>On regular harps I really miss the expressiveness of
>the isolated reed bends. Assume a 'C' harp. I can OB
>Hole 4 for the Eb. I can even bend it up to E natural
>(depending on the particular harp). I can't sustain it
>however and what I don't think feasible would be to
>hit that bent OB from a standstill. This is so
>desireable because musically, one would want to slide
>down from E to Eb just as much as slide up.
>
>Yeah, I've tried valved harps too. I like 'em on the
>blow bends but couldn't make any headway on the valved
>draw bends.
>
>I guess my question is for Chris or any other OB
>heavyweights that might be lurking. Is this something
>that can be done or do you just not bother with, say,
>the given example of a bend from E to Eb?
>
>Since I'm only looking for expression and would use OB
>to hit the missing notes one other approach might be
>to employ prebends. Just the slight, quartertone bends
>on Blows 4,5,6. How 'bout this option?
>
>Paul
>
>__________________________________________________
>Do You Yahoo!?
>Tired of spam?  Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around 
>http://mail.yahoo.com 
>_______________________________________________
>Harp-L is sponsored by SPAH, http://www.spah.org
>Harp-L@xxxxxxxxxx
>http://harp-l.org/mailman/listinfo/harp-l
>