Re: [Harp-L] seamless overblow quest

[Joe Leone <3n037@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

On Jul 23, 2011, at 2:16 PM, fjm wrote:
>   You don't have to linger very long on a note for the pitch issues to obviate.

Hmm, funny, I was thinking the same thing. Now, not talking about this particle piece, but I notice that when one is doing something fast, the fact that they are 'hazing' across some of the notes, they are relatively acceptable. Then, conversely, the slower the piece, the more the timbre issues come into play. Slow pieces are always harder.  

Not wishing to hijack this into another realm, but there's a tune we do called DYKWIMTM NOLa. I can do it one of 3 ways. If I am at 'the Edison' ( an upper scale theme club dedicated to Thomas Edison, at the Ft. Myers country club), and the crowd averages 49 yr avg. yuppies. AND I am not sure of my bending abilities that night, I will use THREE diatonics. For example: a C - SJ...ooops...country tuned, an Eb Richter, and a D Richter. (we do it in G because the drummer sings it) That way, there are very few bends and they are all fairly easy. (This will be explained at my spah presentation).

Now if I am some juke joint WITH noise and the crowd is the usual 64 yr old avg., I use only ONE diatonic. But the first section of the bridge changes key, so there are some bends. The second section changes key again and is almost ALL bends. So one must be aware of where they ARE on the harp that night. (This will also be explained).  

OR, when in doubt, OR a woman sings it, I use a chromatic. The tune is in originally in C. I (usually) play it in D position on a Bb chromatic. Because that's the way I learned it originally. If they change keys, I (sometimes) change chromatics. Sometimes not.  

What's my point? Ok, see, here's the deal. You have to be COMFORTABLE. If there is even the shadow of a doubt that you won't be able to get your notes, you will be distracted. Some say it will break your concentration. I would say that 1.. I don't want to be distracted. 2.. I don't even WANT to have to concentrate. 3.. I just want it to be automatic. I don't want anything sitting on my head.   

So, the topic is timbre/pitch whatever. That's important. That's ALL important.  


> 
> Listening to Brendan Power and P.T. Gazell I've never once been bothered by pitch.  fjm


Never once..yes. It's obvious that they are in their comfortability range. And that, dear friends, takes a LOT of work. :)

smo-joe