[Harp-L] Vertical Dyslexia

[Tin Lizzie <trackharpl@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I cut my teeth on the kind of tab that David Barrett uses in his publications, also used by Jimi Lee:  Since we mostly draw (in blues, anyway), a plain number means to draw on that chamber, and a number with a ‘+’ sign after it means to blow on that chamber.

Lately I’m working on some material with more conventional tablature.  Those up and down arrows are killing me!  Blow is the lower note on the first six chambers, but the arrow points up!  When I inhale/draw, I think of drawing air ‘up and in’, but the arrow points down!

I’m aware of the mnemonic that if you hold the page flat, the arrow points in the direction of the airflow, but reading the tab end-on is not working out so well for me.  I expect I’ll acclimate with time and practice, but does anyone have any other mental model or trick that makes thinking about it easier?  Would someone at least tell me that I’m not alone in this?  (Maybe I just need an ounce of cheerleading, today.  Thanks.)

Tin Lizzie