Re: [Harp-L] Rhythm Willie CD

["Bill" <bill.eborn@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

No, he's playing the draw note really hard and that's bringing the pitch of the reed up a semitone.  I've found that if you tilt the harp back a little bit so the mouthpiece in pointing up a little bit more and then play a hard 1 draw note you can get the minor third that way.  It's quite harsh sounding - a bit like a duck call in a way.

Bill 

----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Zack 
  To: Bill 
  Cc: Ken Hildebrand ; harp-l ; michael rubin 
  Sent: Thursday, February 25, 2010 7:23 PM
  Subject: Re: [Harp-L] Rhythm Willie CD


     Wouldn't that just be overblowing?


  On Thu, Feb 25, 2010 at 2:11 PM, Bill <bill.eborn@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

    Didn't Pat Missin mention that Rhythm Willie had a trick of hitting the 1 draw reed really hard to give him the minor third in 1st position?

    Bill

    ----- Original Message ----- From: "Ken Hildebrand" <airmojoken@xxxxxxxxx>
    To: "harp-l" <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>; "michael rubin" <michaelrubinharmonica@xxxxxxxxx>
    Sent: Thursday, February 25, 2010 6:15 PM

    Subject: Re: [Harp-L] Rhythm Willie CD



      The song that sounds like "St James Infirmary" called "Breathtakin' Blues" is played in 4th position, according to Pat Missin', who is a big fan of Rhythm Willie and mentions him in several places on his website... here is one:

      http://www.patmissin.com/articles/AHN5.html

      Pat also mentions RW using a G harp in 1st position on some of these songs... but when I tried figuring out the keys, some of these songs seem like they are in Gb (F#), or 1/2 step flatter than the key Pat mentions.

      The "Breathtakin' Blues" sounded to me like a Bb harp being used, but I don't play much in 4th, unless I'm doing it without knowing it. :)

      The "I Got Rhythm" was my favorite.

      Ken H in OH

      --- On Thu, 2/25/10, michael rubin <michaelrubinharmonica@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:


        I got the Rhythm Willie CD. I
        have heard one or two songs before, but
        this collection is great. He backs up singers for 10
        songs or so and
        then leads 5 or 6 instrumentals.

        He plays almost exclusively first position, I say almost
        because I
        haven't broken down every solo, I am just goping by
        ear. He focus on
        the high notes, but does some neat low octave stuff
        too. His backup
        work is very stylized, play nearly the same way on all of
        the songs.
        He has an ending lick that is very dinstinctive.

        What is amazing are the insrumentals including a minor that
        is
        reminiscent of St. James Infirmary (1st position high
        octave minor,
        gotta love it!) and an incredible I've Got Rhythm.
        Well worthing having.
        Michael Rubin
        Michaelrubinharmonica.com













  -- 
  -Just Finished: The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway. 
  -Currently Reading: Nothing, tomorrow going to pick up Brave New World, only a $1.50!!!
  -Currently Writing: "Chastity's Lief Harmonica."