Re: [Harp-L] questions about high keyed harps



I'm not a pro but in getting back into harp over the past couple of years I have tried a lot of new brands that did not exist when I played seriously before (I stopped about 1986). I have found Hering, Suzuki and Lee Oskar play better in high keys than Hohners - BUT I have never used special 20s, or used anything but out of the box harps.
On 14 Sep 2008, at 15:05, samblancato wrote:


Hi folks,



I have some questions about harps in the key of D through F. Much if my
playing (electric blues, west coast and Chicago) is in the lower keys from
low F to C. Lately I've been doing songs that call for higher keys harps.
In one song I do, in the key of A, I solo in 3rd position (G) and then
switch to 2nd (D). I'm also doing a couple of songs in B-flat in 2nd
position (E-flat).




So the problem I'm having is that these harps are just way tighter than my
lower keys. I know, of course, that my technique has to change with respect
to pressure, breath control, and the aggressiveness of my bending and it
has. Still, those D and E-flat harps are TIGHT and I'm also choking out
some notes as soon as I land on them and I'm a tongue-blocker and never have
problems with choking out reeds. I'm wishing they were looser or something;
I can't quite find the right word here. And the upper register is
especially challenging thought the blow bend are doable.




I'm playing Special 20s. I have some Seydel 1847s in the lower keys but
most of my kit is still the SP20s. Has anybody tried several out of box
brands and found a particular brand the works better in the upper keys? Or
is it really just a matter of my getting used to these keys in term of
technique? Do I need to go the customized route for the higher keys?




Sam Blancato, Pittsburgh

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