Re: [Harp-L] Blues licks in First Position

["Bob Laughlin" <rlaughlin@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

You must be kidding.

"To expect a harmonica player to examine a modulating ball is too much."

I don't exactly know how to interpret that statement, when "harmonica players" have been known to "examine" quite a number of other things in the pursuit of excellence, including, but not limited to, which hole plays which note. Which hole can be bent how much. Which holes can be bent on the draw, or on the blow. How to disassemble the harp. How to tune the reed to the appropriate frequency. What is the appropriate gap for the reed. How wide should the reedslot be. I mean, basically, just picking up the harp is only the first step in learning all the following steps to becoming an accomplished harp player. Why this "ball" thing would be puzzling, or even challenging to you escapes me. It seems much less difficult to me than all of the aforementioned subjects.

To me, it's almost a no-brainer. Just watch the video:

http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=ipb6vFeefyk

The draw notes are blue, the blow notes are yellow. The blue ball gets smaller as the note is bent further. Basically, large ball, no bend. Smaller ball, half-bend. Smallest ball, whole bend. 

I only watched this one video, the one you posted in your original reply, re-posted above. Is the problem that there is inconsistency in the other videos? From what I watched, the changing size of the ball only related to the relative degree of bend, not to volume at all. In the video you posted, there also were no "green" balls, contrary to what you describe. I only see yellow balls, or blue balls. But it remains that it doesn't seem all that complex to me,,but hey,,maybe you saw something I didn't see?

Is it that you couldn't figure it out, or that you're arguing for abandoning this type of symbolism? I don't think Mox was trying to establish some new norm in online tablature. He was just trying to convey the notes in a simple, easily understandable manner.

BL
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Philharpn@xxxxxxx 
  To: rlaughlin@xxxxxxxxxxxx ; mox.g@xxxxxxxxx ; harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx 
  Sent: Sunday, March 02, 2008 3:54 PM
  Subject: Re: [Harp-L] Blues licks in First Position


  The Code for the three balls simply says: blow (yellow), draw (green)  and bent (green with black rim). The CODE does not distinguish between the various shadings of the bent notes. The bend code needs to be expanded or revised. I only watched three of the videos -- I didn't make a study of them. My point is the DEGREE of the bends is not readily clear. The little balls also get larger and smaller to indicate volume.
  My point is that nobody wants to STUDY this new form of tab to try to make sense of it. Either a different color or half-moon (1/2 step), full moon (full step) and full moon with a dot or slash (step & half) would more sense. To expect a harmonica player to examine a modulating ball is too much. 

  Other than that, I thought the concept was excellent.
  Phil




  In a message dated 3/2/2008 3:22:27 PM Eastern Standard Time, rlaughlin@xxxxxxxxxxxx writes:
    Giving it another, more than "cursory" examination, you will find that the
    draw notes (blue balls) indeed are shaded differently, according to whether
    they are unbent, bent a semitone, or bent a whole tone. The blow notes are
    all in the same shade of yellow, being unbent.

    BL
    ----- Original Message ----- 
    From: <Philharpn@xxxxxxx>
    To: <mox.g@xxxxxxxxx>; <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
    Sent: Sunday, March 02, 2008 11:20 AM
    Subject: Re: [Harp-L] Blues licks in First Position


    >
    > While the concept of the bouncing balls is different, all bends are not
    > created equal. From a cursory examination there is only one color ball for
    bends -- 
    > which is fine for holes that only have a half-step bend. But what about
    the
    > others?
    >
    >
    >
    > In a message dated 3/2/2008 5:28:45 AM Eastern Standard Time,
    mox.g@xxxxxxxxx
    > writes:
    >
    > Zvi Aranoff wrote:
    > >I'm looking for blues licks in first position to add to my repertoire<
    >
    > This link will show you a 12 bar blues bass-line played in 1st on the low
    end
    > of a C golden melody.
    > http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=ipb6vFeefyk
    > It requires all the traditional bends on holes 1-4.
    > Tho' not easy, it's well worth working on.
    > If following the yellow (blow) & blue (draw) balls is confusing, I will
    post
    > a more complete tab.
    > Hope this helps
    > Mox
    >
    >
    >
    >
    >
    > http://www.newhokumsheiks.com
    > http://www.myspace.com/mox_gowland
    > http://www.grapheine.com/bombaytv/play_fr.php?id=1835398
    > http://harmopoint.com
    > _______________________________________________
    > Harp-L is sponsored by SPAH, http://www.spah.org
    > Harp-L@xxxxxxxxxx
    > http://harp-l.org/mailman/listinfo/harp-l
    >
    >
    >
    >
    >
    > **************Ideas to please picky eaters. Watch video on AOL Living.
    >
    (http://living.aol.com/video/how-to-please-your-picky-eater/rachel-campos-du
    ffy/
    > 2050827?NCID=aolcmp00300000002598)
    > _______________________________________________
    > Harp-L is sponsored by SPAH, http://www.spah.org
    > Harp-L@xxxxxxxxxx
    > http://harp-l.org/mailman/listinfo/harp-l





------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Delicious ideas to please the pickiest eaters. Watch the video on AOL Living.