Re: [Harp-L] kim wilson,rick estren,mark hummel,etc overblows

[Winslow Yerxa <winslowyerxa@xxxxxxxxx>]

--- On Sat, 6/19/10, jarett yuknalis <jarett_y@xxxxxxxxx>
 wrote:
I don't hear any overblows from 
these guys,what does it mean?
It means those guys don't use overblows. They came up in a time when overblows weren't part of the common techniques, nor were they part of the techniques used by their formative influences. A great musician can make great music with a stick and a rock - it's all a matter of what you do with your materials. Those guys got to be great players without using overblows, so why should they change?

Noawdays you can hear tradtion-oriented blues players like Dennis Gruenling, Carlos del Junco, Adam Gussow, and many otherrs using overblows in the context of the blues, while less traditional players like Jason Ricci, Chris Michalek, Allen Holmes, and Christelle Berthon use them fluently in a context of rock/jazz/blues fusion and even pop tunes in Christelle's case.

Contrary to what some others have posted, overblows ARE part of the scales for blues in first, second, and third positions, so they have a logical use in the blues. And yes, they can be bent up in pitch - sometimes several semitones - so getting them in tune is a matter of good technique. The players I mentioned use them in a way that enhances the music and play them in tune.

Winslow

Winslow Yerxa

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

Resident expert at bluesharmonica.com

Harmonica instructor, jazzschool.com

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