Re: [Harp-L] How fast can a harmonica be played compared to other instruments?

[Vern <jevern@xxxxxxx>]

To answer your question about speed listen to Franz Chmel  play the Carnival of Venice variations:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vRXZZxkE9IQ
John Popper also plays very fast.
Blackie Schackner played the Flight of the Bumblebee and Hora Staccato fast.

The above examples indicate that you must be a virtuoso before the instrument limits you.

Vern

On Nov 30, 2010, at 9:57 PM, Rick Dempster wrote:

> One key?? most of us play diatonic in at least two keys, many three or four, some of us six or seven, and some lunatics even more.
> Speed isn't the only factor, as it depends on the kind of lines you are playing. Charlie McCoy can play very fast, as can quite a few others coming out of that style.
> The fastest harmonically complex playing I've heard on diatonic is Don Les, whom, for some reason, one rarely hears mentioned on harp-l, possibly because few people have heard his beautiful diatonic jazz.
> For speed generally, the slide on the chrom is a help, not a hindrance. For example, on a C chrom, the C major scale can be played with only two breath reversals:
> C draw, button in;  D draw, button out; E blow, button out; F blow, button in; G blow, button out; A draw button out; B draw, button out; C draw button in.
> On the diatonic its blow, draw,blow, draw, blow, draw, draw blow (holes 4-7) It's the breath reversals that slow you down.
> RD