Re: [Harp-L] Playing country

["Cara Cooke" <cyberharp@xxxxxxxxx>]

I have never played in a country band where they expected me to play just
like someone else, so I have used positions 1 through 4 as I needed them,
just as I do when I play bluegrass.  Minor tunes like "Seminole Wind" work
better in a minor position for me.  12th position rarely gets used, but
it can come up as convenient in a key shift in one of our Texas fiddle
tunes.  The only time I get into a situation where I must play 2nd position
all the time is when the band is more of a country/rock or country/blues
band and the overall delivery forces the need to stay in that scale.

I would be my pleasure to wish you luck on your upcoming gig with Frank
Wakefield.  He plays some wonderful music, so enjoy yourself.

Cara Cooke


On 11/3/07, Glenn Weiser <celticguitar1@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
> I played harp in an alt.country band that did a lot of classic
> stuff-Willie
> Nelson, Roy Acuff, Hank Sr, etc. So I have a take on this.
> I'd say there some times I usually hear/don't hear in country harp
> playing-
>
> 1. 2nd position is used almost always. (I'ver never heard 3rd position
> harp
> in a country song, but maybe someone here has)
> 2. No tongue slaps, so pucker is probably the preferred embouchure
> (disclaimer-hey, you never know)
> 3. Never or rarely heard at the same time vocals are on.
> 4. Less angular rhythms than blues harp.
>
> Charlie McCoy and Mickey Raphael are two great players to listen to here,
> as
> many here will agree.
> BTW, I've been invited to sit in on harp with bluegrass mandolin God Frank
> Wakefield tomorrow night here in upstate New York.
> He does "Pistol Packin' Mama" so fast I may have to pull out some Hail
> Mary
> licks for my solos. I'll be OK on the other stuff.
> Wish me luck.
>
> -Glenn Weiser
>
>
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