Re: [Harp-L] Bending with the Chromatic

[Winslow Yerxa <winslowyerxa@xxxxxxxxx>]

Of course chromatic players bend notes!

I use the same low-C-bent-to-B trick when I'm playing a three octave chorm and need that low B.

Toots Thielemans bends notes all the time.

Larry Adler did some hellacious, bluesy bends on chromatic.

Jerry Murad bent a note down three semitones, then back up in a continuous gliss on the Harmonicats' record of "Cherry Blossom Pink and Apple Blossom White." emulating trumpeter harry james' use of the same device.

Bill Barrett of Los Angeles uses all sorts of extreme bends on chromatic.

Among others.

Winslow

Winslow Yerxa

Author, Harmonica For Dummies ISBN 978-0-470-33729-5

Resident expert at bluesharmonica.com

Harmonica instructor, jazzschool.com

Columnist, harmonicasessions.com

--- On Mon, 7/12/10, Bob Cohen <bob@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

From: Bob Cohen <bob@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [Harp-L] Bending with the Chromatic
To: "harp-l harp-l" <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Monday, July 12, 2010, 11:35 AM

Quick chromatic question. I've got a three octave Chromatic and am working on a song in which it is necessary to play the B below the lowest C on the instrument.  I have a four octave chrom as well and could easily solve the problem by switching instruments. Being a diatonic player, it occurred to me to try bending the reed.  I was able to produce the missing note that way. But this has got me wondering about whether chromatic players bend notes. I'm not asking permission but I am curious. :-)

Bob