[Harp-L] Re: 20th Anniversary of the Half-Valved Harmonica

[dmf 273 <dmf273@xxxxxxxxx>]

Just watched Brendan's excellent video on half-valved diatonics.   A couple
things he didn't mention.

1.  Half-valving pretty much forces you to make a choice - either you're
going to be an overblower or a valved bender (at least on that particular
harp.)  One choice precludes the other.    Although Brendan and PT Gazell do
make those valves sound pretty good.   Mere mortals may have a tough time
getting a decent sound out of a valved bend.   But the same can be said of
mere mortals beginning to overblow.  Both techniques require considerable
practice.   But I think the valved bends learning curve may not be quite as
steep as the overblow learning curve.   I remember rushing out to buy my
first Promaster and being quite disappointed at my initially weak and
unstable valved bends.   It wasn't until many years later that I returned to
valved play as a  complementary augmentation to Fourkey tuning.

2.  Brendan doesn't really dwell on the extension of range you can get by
valved bending the #1 blow down 1/2 step or even a whole step if needed.
 Coincidentally and conveniently, the #1 blow may be the easiest valved bend
to achieve.    I probably use that #1 blow bend more than any other, not
just for expression but as a chromatic extension of the harp's range,
effectively turning a 10 hole harp into a 10-1/2 or 11 hole harp!    Charlie
Parker once said "You need to know your instrument from top to bottom, and
by that I mean from above the top to below the bottom!"   Valved play allows
you to get "below the bottom" of your harp and even if that's the only hole
you valve on your Richter harp,  you should at least give that #1 valve a
try.