RE: [Harp-L] Norton Buffalo & the Many Harps

[Buck Worley <boogalloo@xxxxxxx>]

Please allow me:
 
He is switching harps as the chords change. I've been doing it for years. This is one of my all time favorite harmonica solos and if you can pull it off in a live show, it always, always gets a round of applause. Here it is, simply put without doing a music chord chart or going into modality explainations and/or theory stuff. Just "think" 2nd position:
 
C chord played /  F harp used 
Bb  "        "      /  Eb harp
Ab  "        "      /  Db harp
G    "        "      /  C   harp (ending on the #1 hole blow which brings you back to C)
repeat chord (& harp) progression
 
Thanks for the video. I have never seen him do it. I'll bet he dropped a harp from time to time. :D
 
The way I do the switching is by holding all 4 harps between my fingers. This style of holding does not allow for tight cupping but if you have the chops and the right gear it works. I use an old vintage JT30 Astatic with an old vintage Switchcraft volume control. I do not adjust the VC while performing this solo though.
 
Happy Harpin'
Buck W
 
> From: derwood.blues@xxxxxxxxx
> Date: Tue, 19 Oct 2010 17:01:43 -0400
> To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: [Harp-L] Norton Buffalo & the Many Harps
> 
> Suave Blues Man provided:
> 
> "Here's some of Norton - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPzcZNgVfpA";
> 
> What is up with all the harp switching? Starting around 1:20 he has a solo
> where he make 7 harp switches which, it appears, he uses 3-4 harps. I am
> impressed that he can grab the right one for the right moment and not drop
> one in the process.
> 
> Derwood