[Harp-L] Old-Time Harmonica

["Henderson, Peter" <Henderson@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hey Eric,
 
My personal approach to playing old time music on the harmonica is to play the role of fiddler.  So you are either lead fiddle or second fiddle.  Lead plays...you guessed it - melody.  Second plays, yup, a second part, usually doubling the melody or far less often, creating a part below the melody that emphasizes harmony and chords. In my experience playing with top level OT players they do NOT want you "adding vamps and other rhythmic effects to enhance the piece".  Here's a link to my MY SPACE site where on the tune "Five Miles of Ellum Wood" I duet with an old time fiddler.  You'll hear what I'm talking about.
 
http://www.myspace.com/triphenderson  
 
I've been playing for 30 years and I started with old time while I was living in West Virginia.  I then passed through acoustic blues, Chicago blues, reggae, rockabilly, rock, country, bluegrass, and honky tonk and now I'm back where I started - old time.  Harp and fiddle sound amazing together and there's nothing more fun for me than to sit knee to knee and trance out with the other players on an ancient fiddle tune.  
 
Best,
 
Trip Henderson
 
 

	-----Original Message-----
	From: bluegrassharp@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:bluegrassharp@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Eric Lubeck
	Sent: Tuesday, September 26, 2006 7:51 AM
	To: bluegrassharp@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
	Subject: [BluegrassHarp] Old-Time Harmonica 
	Hi Folks,
	I was curious how people on this list play harmonica in an old-time
	situation. By this i´m thinking of a group probably anchored in the sound
	of clawhammer banjo and fiddle. Do you play the straight melody like
	additional melody players might? If you do, how do you play the melody?
	First position smooth, second position bendy, or some otherway. I typically
	find myself playing second position on a country tuned harp. This sound
	really seems to blend well with the group. I also don´t worry too much
	about melody, but keep my accompianiment strongly with the rhythmic movement
	of the piece, additing vamps and other rhythmic ethics to enhance the
	piece. Seems to me like old-time music is far more about rhythm than
	staying orthodox to the melody and for this reason harmonica seems to be an
	excellent accompaniment instrument.