Re: [Harp-L] Norton Buffalo shoulder on chrome button

["Vern Smith" <jevern@xxxxxxx>]

All such contortions are unnecessary now that the Hands-Free-Chromatic (HFC) 
is available.

However, I have observed that anyone who has devised his own solution to 
button-pushing while playing keyboard or guitar has an emotional investment 
in it.  He has invested a lot of practice time, is justifiably proud of his 
accomplishment, feels that his own method is a part of his unique style, and 
is very resistant to change.  There is a lot of "NIH" (not invented here) 
feeling involved.  Old solutions include not only pushing the button with a 
shoulder, but using one hand each for the harp and the keyboard, foot 
pedals, valved diatonics, XB40s, pairs of XB40s, polyphonia harps, etc.

All of the Hands-Free-Chromatic enthusiasts are rack players who had been 
frustrated by the problem but hadn't yet developed their own method of 
solving it.  I cannot think of a single player who has abandoned his own 
method in favor of the HFC.

When I first invented the HFC, I thought that it would immediately replace 
all of these other methods that I consider crude and inferior.  I approached 
the players and was surprised to be politely but firmly rebuffed or ignored 
by many of them.  I have since come to understand that there is more 
involved than just the mechanics of playing chromatic on a rack.   I have 
backed off, relaxed, and consoled myself with the thought that the world 
will continue its daily rotation if the HFC must co-exist with these earlier 
methods of  playing chromatic with another instrument.  Different strokes 
for different folks.

Vern
Visit my harmonica website www.Hands-Free-Chromatic.7p.com

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Fernando Bresslau" <fernando@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Tuesday, January 02, 2007 5:39 AM
Subject: Re: [Harp-L] Norton Buffalo shoulder on chrome button


> On 01/01/07, Philharpn@xxxxxxx <Philharpn@xxxxxxx> wrote:
> > In one of Norton Buffalo's Homespun videos he talks about what a tough
> > time
> > he had pushing the button in on his chromatic after he broke his collar
> > bone.
> >
> > Anybody else play chrome harp in the rack and use the shoulder to push 
> > the
> > button in?
>
>
> As far as I know, he plays the keyboard with one hand, holds the harmonica
> with another, and pushes the button with his shoulder. He has 2 or 3 CBHs.
>
> Cheers,
> Fernando
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