Re: [Harp-L] re: so you want to be a harp player

[Joe and Cass Leone <leone@xxxxxxxx>]

On Jul 15, 2007, at 10:53 AM, rainbowjimmy@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx wrote:

> You can go a long way playing harp without buying 12 different  
> harps and a chromo.

You can't see my face as I sit here grinning and chuckling, but you  
are absolutely right. There are a couple reasons why I mentioned a  
'full set'. Now, I know there are those on the list that find my  
postings to be tedious but let me explain my position. And remember,  
It's only my opinion.

It had long been established that a full set is advantagious. Well,  
maybe to some people. Not everyone can play in all the keys on a  
single harp (like Rubin), nor play in the key of H. Sooo, let's see,  
what if you have a band that's changing the key of a tune that you do  
to a different key. If you're limited (like me), you need to change  
harps.

Or, what if you are doing a pop number and there is a spot or are  
spots that call for a change of key that necessitates a different  
harp. Let's take the 'Fleetwood's:  (NOT Fleetwood Mac) tune called  
'Tragedy'. You are sailing along on a Db harp played in second  
position (Ab) and then when you get to the bridge, the first part is  
played in Db STRAIGHT and the second part is E STRAIGHT. It's ONLY 5  
notes on that second part but you GOTTA have those notes. They MAKE  
the tune. If you can't do those critical notes, don't play the tune.

Extrapolate that to hundreds of tunes and you get a better picture.  
Having a band (or singer) changing the keys all the time quickly eats  
up various keyed harps. Example: We have this guitar player who is  
80" tall and around 20 stone. For all his 'Lurchness', he has a high  
voice and does Kansas City in C. Now if I use a regular F, it's too  
'pinchy'. If I use a low F, It doesn't carry. Soo, I will choose  
another position. A-haaaaa, another harp. (btw, I have NEVER had a  
good F harp).

Another example 'Londonderry Aire' (aka Danny Boy). It was a long  
time practice in the country western field to use FOUR harps for this  
tune. One for the head, one for the bridge, modulate up a semi one  
and a third for the head and the fourth for the finale. I have always  
used just TWO harps for this tune even with a key change, BUT someone  
doing it the 'old' way would need 4 harps. Depending on what keys are  
used for what tunes, it's easy to see that over the course of an  
evening, it isn't too far fetched to go through 8 harps pretty quick.  
Ergo: since we already need 2/3 of a set, why not get the whole  
set?  :) Sure, the ones on the ends will be lonely, but it's insurance.


> I use 3 harps for 99% of my live band work, an A, C, and D.

I use 3 harps for 67% of the stuff I do. Another 2 harps for 30% and  
an additional harp for the last 9%. HEY, wait a minute Jo-Jo, that's  
106%. That can't be. Yes it can, as I already mentioned, there will  
be times when all you need are 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 notes from ANOTHER  
harp to do the tune correctly. So, in effect, you will get some  
overlap where you need that little additional harp.

> We do a couple songs where I need an F and once in awhile a G.

Ok, so that's 5 (so far). Figuring a key change here and there could  
add a harp on the bottom and top ends. Now inasmuch as 7 harps is  
going right back to that 2/3rds I was talking about earlier, I don't  
think it's too reachey to cover one's fern and get the set. So much  
for the set explanation.

> That's four sets with the harp in 90% of the songs. I do some one  
> finger organ work when it comes time to play the surf stuff, and  
> when the band does the Drifters, I just sit out a song or two.

If you used my tuning, you could do the Drifter's stuff (and most of  
the Coasters). Under the Boardwalk, Up on the Roof, When my Little  
Girl is Smiling. ALL can be done easily with a smokey tuned harp (aka  
'double country').

As for the chromatic, there are those who can play all the keys on  
them. I can 'ear' about 5 keys. Then I need the chart. Totally  
different animal.

smokey-joe
> Play with Neanderthals. It's cheaper. Play for drunks. They don't  
> care.
>
> Rainbow Jimmy
> http://www.spaceanimals.com
> http://www.soundclick.com/theelectricstarlightspaceanimals.htm
> _______________________________________________
> Harp-L is sponsored by SPAH, http://www.spah.org
> Harp-L@xxxxxxxxxx
> http://harp-l.org/mailman/listinfo/harp-l
>
> !DSPAM:5614,469a4334229031223211147!