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

[Bradford Trainham <bradford.trainham@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

And.....
Learn at least third position... on ever how many of those harps you
end up with... as that'll certainly sneak you out of a few scrapes... 
By the way... If Gime Shelter is done in c-sharp minorish... and I'm
playing a Steve Baker Special in a to accommodate the harp part...
what position is that?  
The sitting position???
Brad Trainham
On Sun, 15 Jul 2007 13:20:30 -0400, you wrote:

>
>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
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