Re: [Harp-L] Range

["Tim Moyer" <wmharps@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Walter Joyce wrote:
> I just completed buying a full set of diatonic harmonicas of all 
> twelve keys in both registers available, thanks to the recent 
> efforts by Seydel. so from low Ab through low Db I have the Sydel 
> blues harp, then special 20s from low D through low F#, Golden 
> Mels for low G through high F# and a special 20 for the high G.

Oh, don't stop yet!  Seydel makes a high Ab and a high A!  Both the 
Session and the Favorit models at least.

> I'm a little disappointed I can only find sets with all 12 keys 
> in the Lee Oskar brand.

Lee Oskar also sells a low F and a high G in standard tuning, I 
believe.  These may not be available as part of a set, but should be 
available separately.  

> What I like to do now when I play is to grab both harps in the 
> key I'm playing in and work between the two. I use a lot of 
> octaves and tongue blocking (although I can't bend using TB yet). 
> I like the variety of sounds I can get between the two, and will 
> often use the higher octave harp in second position for soloing.

I do this a lot too.  It's nice to have the lower harp for 
background, vamping, etc., and then the extra clarity to cut through 
on the solo on the higher harp.  I do this a lot when playing the F 
and G.  

-tim