Re: [Harp-L] Standing at the crossroads

["Arnold Wiliem" <arnoldw.id@xxxxxxxxx>]

Hi Guys,

I'm also newbie in playing harp. Still seeking for enlightenment. I
just bought my first harp 3 months ago. I've got my first bend already
now and still learning on controlling it. I also usually play some
church songs which obviously require overblows and overdraws to get
those missing notes. At this moment I handle that by using two harps.
Say if I want to get note F# in key of C, I just use either G or A
harps. And then, I hold C harp as my main harp. So, I do that with
holding two harps at once. Although it's hard to maneuver (like
sliding, doing fast rhythms like in Blues), but it's still acceptable
for church songs since they have somewhat  slower beat.
I was wondering whether this style of play is good or not? What do you
think guys? If it's good, then there is the forth option, that is,
using two harps at once.

Arnold


On Thu, Jun 19, 2008 at 4:09 AM, Vern Smith <jevern@xxxxxxx> wrote:
> I dislike your "crossroads" analogy.  I suggest that you are trying to
> decide whether or not to add another tool to your kit and to develop the
> skill to use it well.  Your question seems to me to boil down to how much
> future effort you wish to put into mastering overblows.
>
> I decided long ago that, for me, bends and overblows were like pounding
> square pegs into round holes.  It seems to me that you (not me) could play
> blues without overblows and play other genres requiring overblows on
> chromatic.  It is like selecting a tool appropriate to the task.
>
> However, your current ability to play the diatonic with bends will not
> instantly vanish when you pick up a chromatic. It could mean that your
> efforts will be addressed more to overall musicianship and less toward
> mastering overblows. It could mean that you will not be able to play
> chromatic notes on the diatonic.  Unless you aspire to be another Howard
> Levy, you should be able to live with this.
>
> Your phrase "learn to play chromatic"  suggests that you think of it as a
> separate instrument.  Most of your currend diatonic skills apply to the
> chromatic.
>
> - Your ability to play single notes or pairs of "double stops"
> - Your embouchure or "tone".
> - Your ability to play by ear in the middle octave...because all octaves of
> the chromatic have that tuning.
> - Your ability to read music and understand chords on guitar is easily
> extended to chromatic.
>
> My point is that you are not entering completely strange territory.  Nor are
> you losing your current ability on the diatonic.
>
> What are the advantages:
>
> - Any halftone in the chromatic scale is no more than a button push away.
> This can be mastered in 30 seconds as apposed to years of practice to master
> bends and overblows.
> - Although there are exceptions both ways, a much higher % of chromatic
> players read music than do diatonic players. Reading brings sheet music of
> many new genres within your reach.
>
> What are the disadvantages?
>
> - Chromatic harmonicas are more expensive, finicky, and require more
> maintenance than diatonics.
> - A C chromatic does not remember the key signature for you as do diatonics
> in different keys.  It is possible to own chromatics in a variety of keys
> but it is expensive and the selections of chromatic types are limited.
> However, it is no more challenging than playing in different keys on a
> guitar or other instrument.
>
> And one more thing....under the heading of spam:
>
> Because you already have chops on both instruments. I suggest you consider
> Hands-Free-Chromatic on a rack with your guitar.  I find that practice
> playing both instruments yields more satisfaction than equivalent time and
> effort practicing bends and overblows. The sustained, reedy, overtone-rich
> sound of the monophonic harmonica playing melody combines perfectly with the
> decaying, rhythmic, mellow, sound of the polyphonic guitar in accompaniment.
> I love to play long passages of two-voice harmony.  Such a passage would end
> after a few notes of double-stopping on harmonica at the need to play
> blow/draw or button in/out at the same time.
>
> I must be careful not to rhapsodize.    ;o)
>
> Vern
> Visit my harmonica website www.Hands-Free-Chromatic.7p.com
>
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