Re: [Harp-L] Sonny Boy Williamson Bye Bye Bird

[Michelle LeFree <mlefree@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hello all -

I inadvertently caused some confusion in my post a couple of days ago 
about my preference for the low C SBS harp for use in playing Bye Bye 
Bird. I want to take moment to try to clear this up.

1) The SBS is a 14 hole harp built on the Hohner 364 Marine Band 
platform, not the 365 which is a 12-holer. For some reason I always seem 
to get the 364 & 365 mixed up.

2) The SBS in C is actually a low C tuned harp, even though it is 
sometimes not labeled as such (mine isn't). Other SBS harps in the keys 
of G and A don't have the lower octave on the bottom end (and aren't 
nearly as useful IMO). The Coast-To-Coast web site explains it thusly:

"Standard Richter tuning, but the first three holes are the same notes 
as normal holes 1-3 but tuned an octave lower on the C, D and F, giving 
the player extended range and bending in the first 9 holes. Holes 3-13 
are the same as normal 1-10, and hole 14 is an added blow and draw note 
on the high end. The A and G start in the same octave as the normally 
tuned diatonic, but have additional notes on the high end. This gives 
the player a 4 octave range with this tuning."

I find this confusing myself because it seems to define hole 3 twice. I 
would say that holes 4-13 are tuned like a normal 10-hole diatonic.

Whether it is labeled low C or simply C, it's a great harp for Bye Bye 
Bird. It also extends many other possibilities for playing blues. For 
example you can set up a bass line on the low end and then jump up to 
the normally tuned holes for the melody. It also extends the range of 
double-stops for interesting effects.

Sorry if I contributed to an already confusing situation with these SBS 
harmonicas. And thanks to the off-list posts that helped me understand 
where I went awry.

I'm still hoping Steve Baker himself will chime in and expand on/clarify 
the situation with his SBS harmonicas. They are great harps and more 
players should be knowledgeable about them.

Thanks,

Michelle