Subject: Re: Subject: [Harp-L] re:the Lowest G???

[EGS1217@xxxxxxx]

Very interesting, Ben...though I couldn't access the first link...it  came up 
as "this link has no valid files in it".  Has it expired?  I'd  really like 
to hear the "Blues Been Bad"...
 
I especially liked what you played on the LLF..From the Seydel link,  
although my very limited (till now) playing on diatonic is laughable compared to  
yours (I've put my blues and almost all diatonic playing on hold for the  last 
couple of years while I try to focus on chromatics).
 
  However I DID achieve my very first blow bend on that new low F  (not a 
Seydel) after eavesdropping on a small class Michael Rubin was conducting  by the 
elevator at one of the SPAH conventions a couple of years go...so that's  
something I was quite happy about.
 
Someone else whose deep and low playing I'm fascinated by (I don't know  what 
brand of harps he plays..or if I did I've forgotten, now)...is Dennis  
Gruenling.  His 'foghorn' sound is remarkable, as is his whole swing and  Jump Blues 
style.
 
I'd love to hear more jazz playing too on these really low harps.
 
I do have one question (which has come up before, but I don't remember  
seeing a response).  
 
The following instruction is just a trifle confusing to me...what  exactly is 
'upright'?  ...is it horizontal with the mouthpiece up;  horizontal with the 
mouthpiece down, or do you mean the harps should be vertical  within its slot 
in a harp case (as so many people carry them in customized  cases?); all of 
which could, technically be considered 'upright'?  I  realize the concept is not 
to have the harp lying 'flat' because of the weight  of the solder on the 
reeds, but otherwise I'd appreciate your clarifying  it:
 
"Important!  Please store these harps in an upright position.  Otherwise the 
setting of the low reeds could be changed from the  default!"
 
Merci beaucoup,
Elizabeth
Message: 2
Date: Tue, 12 Feb 2008  09:51:07 +0100
From: "ben bouman" <fitgo@xxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Re:  Subject: [Harp-L] re:the Lowest G??? 
To: <EGS1217@xxxxxxx>,  <orupert@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Cc: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
Message-ID:  <006e01c86d54$688caf70$0200000a@fitgo>
Content-Type: text/plain;  format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
reply-type=original

Here:  http://jamq.org/jamqueue/harmonica/hbopenmic/listeningpost.php
you can hear  me playing a Seydel lowlowF, simply click on BluesBeenBad by 
Ben  Bouman

I used a backing track from this site, played through my laptop/pc  mic(sony 
condenser) , cupping it .
I used Audacity , adjusted the level  of th eharptrack a little and that's 
it...

The lowlowF I used is out  of the box, when you listen careful you can once 
or twice hear a valve  buuz/plop.
But that's because I've never cleaned/adjusted the harp.
I know  Rupert plays them without valves (and customizes them ) and yes, he 
knows  how to bend the lower notes!!!

It's not that diffcult but you have to  overcome that funny feeling when you 
try to bend. It's like the "cough" spot  that people often mention but worse.
Your body tellls you that it "could"  hurt but after learning how to relax it 
gets easier and easier.
And of  course it very helpful to learn to control the airflow when bending 
on  different keyed harps.
It also helps to build the muscles that are involved  when you do bending 
exercises.

on this page, when you click on sound,  you can hear me do a solo acoustic 
tune on a lowlowF, out of the  box.:
http://www.seydel1847.de/epages/Seydel.sf/de_DE/?ObjectPath=/Shops/Seydel/Prod
ucts/10204/SubProducts/10204LLF_Chrom

here  is a more jazzy tune on a low  Bb:
http://www.seydel1847.de/epages/Seydel.sf/de_DE/?ObjectID=115959


www.beta-harps.com
Ben  Bouman
www.seydel1847.de
www.marbletones.com
www.marble-amps.com
www.harmonicainstituut.nl
www.beta-harps.com
-----  Original Message ----- 
From: <EGS1217@xxxxxxx>
To:  <orupert@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Cc: <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Tuesday,  February 12, 2008 4:47 AM
Subject: Subject: [Harp-L] re:the Lowest  G???


> Yes, and one of MY most memorable Buckeye moments was  walking into the
> 'store' and hearing/seeing a video of you playing  'Stranger on the Shore' 
> on a
> veeeerrry  low harp (don't  recall which key, but 'think' it was a low, 
> low F?)...
>
>  You were being teased unmercifully by your friends, for the: 'strolling  on
> the sand, waves washing ashore, gulls honking overhead' video.   It was 
> great.
> :)  First time I'd heard such a low  harp.  I bought a low  F diatonic the
> next  day.
>
> Elizabeth




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