Re: [Harp-L] Me, not the harp, on the upper end

["steve@xxxxxxxxxxxx" <swebb@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

I'm like so many harp players. Play it safe. However, working a little with third position got me to 8 draw and I found a second position run down the harp that starts at 9 blow, so I guess I'm venturing in there a little bit. I have never particularly liked the sound of the upper end of the harp and I have heard some people who knew their way around those holes, but still didn't sound great. That said, I really like some of Jimmy Reed's work ( or is that Jimmy's reed work?) up there. And I have heard Chris Michalek make some really pretty sounds at that end of the harp. I'm still deficient enough on the low end, so the top end will have to wait.
Steve Webb in cold Minnesota

---- Bob Laughlin <rlaughlin@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote: 
> Well,,since everyone seems convinced that it's me, not the harp, I'm going to have to work on this. I move a lot of air when I play, and I think I tend to blow harder to try to bend notes on the upper end, thinking that's what may work. Hmmm,,maybe not. I'm mostly an acoustic player, with infrequent sorties into amplified music. My amplified gigs never meet with complaints, and only because I'm very confident on the lower six holes, and have developed familiarity, decent tone, and know how to relax, open up the airway, play from my gut, etc, etc, etc,,
> 
> I don't even risk high notes when I'm on stage, so I get compliments on my gear, my playing, etc. I play it safe, in other words. 
> 
> I'm looking forward to learning how to use the upper register, after hearing the 1st position example given earlier this week from a youtube clip of Kim Wilson. I've heard that note, whatever note that is, bent before, but never able to reproduce it well. It seems that most players I've heard don't use the upper notes well, and that's a drawback. It separates the accomplished harp players from the rest of us, as far as full harp viruosity, in my opinion. It seems that the upper end is calling me, and I'm willing to answer, so that means work.
> 
> I never spent much time there also because I never felt that in that area you could get "that tone". "That tone" always seemed reserved to the lower, deeper notes. Vibrato on the upper half,,forget it. That's been my feeling anyway. But who knew? Time to woodshed.
> 
> BL
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