Re: [Harp-L] apples and oranges

joe leone <3n037@xxxxxxxxxxx> · Sat, 5 Jun 2010 16:58:04 -0400

On Jun 5, 2010, at 3:16 PM, Gary Lehmann wrote:
OK, so what's the best harp to play the head to Take the A Train?
Inquiring minds want to know . . .
G

 * Ordinarily I would say that an SJ tuned diatonic is easiest. BUT  
since you need to 'Flat" the 5 BLOW reed on the word Train, you DO  
need a windsaver on the 5 DRAW reed. Ergo, you need a smo-joe tuning.
 Otherwise, a chromo is easier. BUT that 9 note run DOES require a  
lot of practice. (That's the on ly way to get to Haar.....)
On tunes like DYKWIM to miss New Orleans, I use a C smo-joe tuned,  
and Eb Richter, and a D Richter. Then I do the second run with a  
chromo. I use a Bb played in D.
My point? Just like my good friend Phil the Harpin dude says...run  
through a tune with BOTH types of small harp and do that in SEVERAL  
keys to find the combination that works best. (in my  
case ...easiest...lolol)
smo-joe

On Sat, Jun 5, 2010 at 12:09 PM, <Philharpn@xxxxxxx> wrote:
The best way to determine the right instrument -- chromatic or  
diatonic --

for a tune is to try it on both harps.
For example, if you have a solo chromatic and a Richter 10-hole  
diatonic,

try playing "Don't Get Around Much Anymore" on each harp, taking  
care to

play

the descending bass line.
That bass line may seem easier with bent notes, but it also  
becomes easier

on the chromatic if you play it a few times on the chromatic.
The other thing you may notice -- no guarantees here -- is that by  
playing

that descending bass line on the chromatic, you get better at  
hitting the

bass note bends on pitch.
And for a third wrinkle, you might try the tune on a Slide Harp --  
the

Richter tuned chromatic with the note layout like a blues harp. The

half-valved

Slide Harp (also unvalved Koch) is not fully chromatic -- there is  
no A

without bending in the first octave. But it you like the Richter  
layout

with its

four-hole octaves but sometimes need unbent notes in a certain  
song, this

harp may do the trick for you.
The SlideHarp may come in handy   in certain position playing  
where a main

note is a bent note. Rather than spend all your energy on that  
bent note,

you can use the button (as long as it's not an A) and concentrate  
your

effort

on playing the song rather than concentrating on on-pitch bends.  
Especially

if the song starts on a tricky bend.
Or you can play the note on a guitar.
Phil