Re: [Harp-L] Blue Bayou

[Jim Crutchfield <jdcrutch@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

That is a sweet song.  You can definitely play the melody from first 
position on a diatonic.  I just tried it on a 14-hole C Marine Band, and 
managed it easily in C and F (I don't know what position that was, but 
all the notes were there--start on the 7th hole).  The only problem with 
1st position is that the melody starts below the key note (on G if 
you're in C, which is the fifth on the C scale, but is four steps down 
from where you end up), which means you have to play fairly high up on 
the harp on a regular diatonic in order to have all the notes.  
Depending on the key, that can get kind of piercing.  I also tried it on 
a G Lee Oskar Melody Maker (which plays in G from 2nd position), and 
that was nice, but required bending to get one note (a Bb, I think, the 
next-to-last note in the line "If I could only see").

All these notes and positions tend to confuse me--I usually just play by 
ear and feel--so somebody please correct me if I've gotten any of this 
wrong.

As for the solo, I'm 'fraid there ain't much I can put into words.  I'd 
just try to figure out how to play as low on the machine as possible, 
though that's a matter of taste, of course.  Let us hear how you do!

Crutch

On 7/2/2010 2:05 PM, harp-l-request@xxxxxxxxxx wrote:
> Date: Fri, 2 Jul 2010 11:14:56 -0400
> From: Barry Cohen<shadowboxblues@xxxxxxxxx>
> Subject: [Harp-L] Blue Bayou
> To:harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
> Message-ID:
> 	<AANLkTimHa4wOF3ab9JhcaCGwR44mjd-V3l4PV8tRfKBO@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
>
> Hi List,
>
> Has anyone played harp to this wonderful Roy Orbison song (covered so
> beautifully by Linda Ronstadt)?
>
> If so, any hints for playing it on diatonic?  Can it be done in 1st, 2nd, or
> 3rd position ('cause that's all I know!)?
>
> I've been asked to play the soft melody 'under' the vocals - need to also
> figure out a solo.
>
> Thanks&  happy red white&  bluz holiday to all!
>
> Barry C.
> Boston
>
>