Re: [Harp-L] Stones' 'Waiting on a Friend'

[joe leone <3n037@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

On Nov 16, 2009, at 11:39 AM, Ken Hildebrand wrote:

> I tried the song on a Low-F country-tuned harmonica, like Brad  
> suggested and it worked great.
>
> I got the Low-F country-tuned harp, by taking a Lee Oskar Low-F  
> major (richter-tuned) and a Lee Oskar C Melody Maker and swapped  
> one of the reed-plates, giving you a Low F country-tuned (top of  
> the major, bottom plate of the MM) and a Low F paddy-richter tuned  
> (top of the MM, bottom of the major).
>
> Well technically its not a "true" country-tuned because the 9 draw  
> is also raised a 1/2 step (5 draw is also raised a 1/2 step).  I  
> beleive this is better known as the Smo-Joe country-tuning.
>
> Ken H in OH
Ha ha ha, I don't know if it's 'better known as' but I have been  
using that tuning since 1959. There was a good reason for it. I am  
not as advanced as most of you guys/gals, or at least I wasn't back  
then. After all, I was just a kid of 17. I never liked the Richter  
layout and while it's fine for blues (with the blue #5 draw), It  
didn't lend itself to ballads nor Doo-Wop. Several people I know have  
claimed that the 50s were the low point in music in the U.S., but I  
didn't see it that way. I liked to play along with the Fleetwoods,  
Flamingoes, Shep & the Limelights, Johnny Maestro & Brooklynn Bridge,  
Drifters, and yada yada yada.

 Changing the reed #5 made a difference in doing 19 out of 100 tunes  
in an acceptable fashion to a whopping 67 out of 100. THEN, I noticed  
that it made a number of country/western tunes possible even WITHOUT  
using a second harp for the bridge. Then, since I like to use all 10  
holes, I realized that the #9 needed adjusting too. I'm not German,  
so Richter doesn't fit me, and I'm not Irish, so Paddy doesn't fit me  
either. I am Italian & Polish, so I don't know WHAT (the hell) I'm  
doing? lolol

 I have NO idea of what positions are. I know that I sometimes pick  
up a harp that is waaaay different from what the tune requires? And  
sometimes I make it work, but couldn't tell you what I'm doing. I  
think this comes from the fact that I am mainly a chromo player and  
work with all chromos in all keys. So maybe it's osmosis? lolol

smokey-joe