RE: [Harp-L] Overblow C sharp challenge

["Bradford Trainham" <bradford.trainham@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi,
An alternative approach... Which won't make you/me feel quite so inadequate
is to move through positions slowly until you find situations wherein you
need to use the over-blows.
For instance, on a c harp, obviously, you'll not have much use for them in
first position.
In second position, you can use the five over-blow to get the f-sharp in a g
major scale.
While this approach won't "blow you away" the same way as some of the songs
others have mentioned in answer to your question, it's more immediately
attainable and you won't feel like you're climbing up a thousand-mile wall. 
At this point in my own journey, I'm often comfortable enough with the six
over-blow to play that with other people in the room... (other than Michael
Rubin whose psycho-aural center I've probably damaged forever!!)  
The five over-blow is, for me, less reliable but slowly getting better.  The
four, we have to work on... But I'm certainly further than I was this time
last year when I couldn't even get that telltale squawk suggesting a blow
reed and a draw reed were in contention for the same note.
And, as has often been said, if you have the opportunity, try a harp that
has been set up for over-blowing as that seems to make the concept align
with muscle memory and then to become transferable to more chalenging harps.
(I hope you know what I meant by any of that.  This is some good coffee!!)
Good luck!
Brad Trainham

-----Original Message-----
From: harp-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx [mailto:harp-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf
Of Richard Hammersley
Sent: Wednesday, December 17, 2008 1:31 PM
To: Harp L Harp L
Subject: [Harp-L] Overblow C sharp challenge

Day 3, still wrestling with learning overblows - feels like when I could not
form separate notes on the harmonica. But I am sure it will come. Keen types
say they play in all keys on a single harp. Can anyone point me to a
recorded example of somebody playing in C sharp on a C harp (or similar  +
one semitone in another key) in a coherent way? Even a fast scale would
inspire me!! Someone must have done this, even just out of contrariness.

Richard
Richard Hammersley
Grantshouse, Scottish Borders
http://www.last.fm/music/Richard+Hammersley
http://www.myspace.com/rhammersley
http://www.myspace.com/magpiesittingdown




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