Re: [Harp-L] Huang harps and other "practice" types

[Ray Carrington <bigraycar53@xxxxxxxxx>]

I'd like to make one more suggestion to any new comer.  a cheap harp like a pocket pal can be taken apart.  Cleaned with tooth paste.   file the reeds and get some awareness. in alternate toning.
In particular take a standard c and file the draw 5 to f sharp.  that gives country  harp .   In fact raise 1,4,5,6 draw and 7, 9,10 blow.  all 1/2 step and you can eliminate the overblows.   and have more spots to hit your bends.  less likely to snap the 5 draw.  what happens is early in practicing your bends 4 draw is perhaps the easiest and  5 draw is the most unforgiving.   similar on the seven blow.   you would not want to try first time on a good harp..  so having something more expendable will be nice to have.
 

________________________________
 From: Ray Carrington <bigraycar53@xxxxxxxxx>
To: "the_jukester@xxxxxxxx" <the_jukester@xxxxxxxx> 
Sent: Monday, June 24, 2013 6:25 PM
Subject: Re: [Harp-L] Huang harps and other "practice" types
   


I know a few will bite my head off for this,,
a few will concur.....
but I think every kid should start with a pocket pal.
 

________________________________
 From: "the_jukester@xxxxxxxx" <the_jukester@xxxxxxxx>
To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx 
Sent: Monday, June 24, 2013 8:51 AM
Subject: [Harp-L] Huang harps and other "practice" types
  

     I'm a little puzzled as to why someone would want to practice on an instrument they consider to be inferior to the instrument they prefer to perform with. Why bother? I think one would want to sound the best and be able to play their best in both situations. I practice with my gigging harps, and have done so for 40+ years. I want to know what to expect from my gear when I hit the stage, and that includes my harps. 

     I also agree with Smokey Joe that giving a student a low grade harp to learn on is cruel, and foisting the instrument on kids who may not have the slightest inclination to learn to play is a waste of time and money. That's the reason so many harps end up in the junk drawer, due to frustration,
 disappointment, and disinterest. The urge to play has to come from the student, and this interest won't be encouraged by starting them on a harp of less than acceptable quality. I play Marine Bands, and encourage my students to do likewise.

Pete Sheridan
Author - "The Quest For Tone In Amplified Blues Harp"
Author - "Affordable Axes And Cool Amps For The Slide Guitarist/Harp Player"
Author - "Wayne Raney, That Hillbilly Boogie Boy With The Talking Harmonica"
Contributing Writer - Living Blues Magazine, Guitar Player Magazine, Blues Review Magazine, AHN (R.I.P.)
www.petesheridan.net





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