Re: [Harp-L] Playing Chromatics in all keys and the Paddy O'Brienmethod

["G. E. Popenoe" <gpopenoe@xxxxxxxxx>]

Howard is a monster on the instrument. He has taken the technique to
a legitimate sound of his own.

*I should be careful if Howard reads this blog. Howard, if you're reading
this, I was definitely incredulous about what you were doing when I first
heard you. I and others who play chromatic questioned your pitch, etc. We
considered the technique a novelty even if impressive. Hell, we questioned
your sanity! But, I have two Bela Fleck albums with you on them so, I guess
I got over that.*

Now for the rest of us mortals. I've wondered if maintaining good pitch and
intonation is a signiifcant issue in general amongst the players attempting
the technique. I have not heard enough who are using it to get a feel for
this. That is why I was asking about it. I could imagine that there may be
some train wrecks happening out there now and then.

For me doing clean "on pitch" bends is a challenge even playing traditional
blues harp techniques. I haven't been able to do too many overblows without
nearly destroying my instrument. (Probably poor technique)

Because of my own experience, I have questioned the technique and it's value
in view of the tremendous effort it takes to make the instrument do
something it was not designed to do. The challenge is tempting,
however, plus I can't duplicate that unique sound on the chromatic.

Regards,

GP

OK Rick, Your turn!







On 4/1/08, Rick Dempster <rick.dempster@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
> "Do you think Howard Levy and others have that handled well?"
> Hmmm.......after you, please Gary.
> RD
>
>
> >>> "G. E. Popenoe" <gpopenoe@xxxxxxxxx> 2/04/2008 2:33 >>>
> Sure sounds like a fun challenge to master such a technique. How do
> others feel about the ability to stay on pitch on all those bent notes.
>
> Do you think Howard Levy and others have that handled well?
>
>
> Gary Popenoe
>
> On Mar 31, 2008, at 11:33 PM, Ken Deifik <kenneth.d@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
> > At 10:02 AM 3/31/2008, you wrote:
> >> Since becoming acquainted with Harp-L of course I now realise that
> >> "Real
> >> Players" must play in any key on a ten hole blues harp.
> >
> > None of the professional diatonic harmonica players on Harp-l have
> > said this, to my knowlege, whether they can do it or not.
> >
> > The ability to play in all keys on a diatonic is a skill in its
> > infancy.  Some people are doing it brilliantly, some will do it
> > brilliantly in a few years.  It's a great new direction for diatonic.
> >
> > But most of the diatonic players I'm acquainted with, both on this
> > list and off, are kibbitzing this remarkable development.  I am
> > doing so myself.
> >
> > My own approach to music, on harmonica at least, is to develop new
> > expressive tools on the diatonic using pretty much the "blues
> > approach" that developed between the early part of the last century
> > and the early 1950's.  Hopefully my style is nothing like anyone
> > else's, but hopefully the marvelously funky and deep feeling of the
> > blues comes through in every note.
> >
> > From the mid-60's and on for about ten years I used three or four
> > notes that reached toward chromaticism, i.e., notes that you would
> > not hear on a blues recording by one of the black blues players of
> > the first half of the century.  One by one those notes fell away,
> > and finally I found myself fully enthralled by the endless
> > possibilities for musical expression afforded by limiting one's self
> > to the blues harp note set.  I have never once regretted the road I
> > have taken, even when the new 'chormaticism of the diatonic' began
> > emerging.
> >
> > Most of my diatonic colleagues - my personal acquaintainces that is
> > - would say pretty much the same thing, though they'd probably use
> > fewer words.
> >
> > So no, if you've gotten the impression that you 'must' learn the
> > chromaticism of the diatonic harp, it's the wrong impression.
> >
> > It's discussed in this forum a great deal because it is an emerging
> > craft and the players that are pioneering it are doing so very much
> > in discussions right in front of us.
> >
> > But there is an infinite amount of music yet to be discovered in the
> > non-chromatic route, too.
> >
> > Ken
> >
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