[Harp-L] RE: Tremolo harmonicas

"Hellerman, Steven L." <shellerman@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> · Sat, 25 May 2013 13:33:07 -0700

Yes, the relative major to Em is G. That would be fourth position (E to A to D to G)  w/ straight harp technique. Most likely the easiest and cheapest way to go is get a temelo harp in G. There's an inexpensive Suzuki one that comes in G, I think.

In my limited tremolo experience I've found that splitting the octave, i.e. tounge blocking, sounds pretty good on a tremolo. Good luck.

SLH

Message: 12
Date: Sat, 25 May 2013 12:51:10 -0700
From: Vern <jevern@xxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: [Harp-L] Tremolo harmonicas
To: Ross Macdonald <pdxharpdog@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Cc: List harp-l <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Message-ID: <A4CA2006-F4CA-4E9D-8311-76E3BF164F26@xxxxxxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

To play in Em, use a concert-tuned (not Richter) G harp.  This gives you the natural minor scale.  If the song uses the melodic or harmonic minor, There will be chromatic notes.

IF the song is chromatic, then things get more complicated. 

The Suzuki tremolo chromatic harmonica has a button, plays like any chromatic, and costs $1500.  This would be the easiest way to play your song but also the most expensive.

You can use a pair of tremolo harps, C and C# held in the hands one above the other and played like a bass harmonica... switching back and forth for the "white-key" and "black-key" notes.  This is much less costly than the Suzuki monster, but requires a a different playing technique.  I believe that you can find pairs of tremolos offered for sale for this purpose.

Some amps have a tremolo effect.  There may be stomp-boxes having tremolo.  Bare electronic tremolo gives the pulsations but not the "singing" sound of two reeds. You could experiment with reverb and chorusing effects for the "singing" sound.

IF you are good, you can produce a "ha-ha-ha-ha"  tremolo with your throat and diaphragm. Then you could add reverb and chorusing to taste.

Tremolo harps have two reeds for every note and require more breath to play.  The two reeds are tuned to slightly different frequencies.  This produces beats that pulse at a rate equal to the difference in frequencies.   Tuning is very critical.  If the pulse rate is too low, it won't be heard as tremolo.  IF the pulse rate is too high, it is irritating.  A pleasing rate is in the neighborhood of 3-4 per second.

Vern

On May 25, 2013, at 7:53 AM, Ross Macdonald <pdxharpdog@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> Going into the studio soon to record harp on my bands new album and the producer wants to incorporate some tremolo harp into the mix. I don't have any experience with tremolo harps so I have two questions for those of you who understand the tremolo beast:
>
> 1) on a song in E minor, what tremolo harp should a melody line be played on. I can't find a E minor tremolo, not sure what bends can be achieved, or perhaps a D harp in third position would work?
>
> 2) are there any tutorial videos that you all could recommend that will explain the tremolo to the uninitiated?
>
> Thanks for any help. 
>
> Ross Macdonald
>
> Sent from my iPad

________________________________

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Today's Topics:

   1. Re: Key of E (Wilbur Euler)
   2. Video-pablo fagundes --virtosity OMG (Randy Singer)
   3. My Take on Remington Ride (Mick Zaklan)
   4. Tremolo harmonicas (Ross Macdonald)
   5. insperation (Ray Carrington)
   6. Re: insperation (Eric Miller)
   7. Re: insperation (Robert Rowe)
   8. Re: My Take on Remington Ride (David Naiditch)
   9. YouTube Dilemma ? Suggestions appreciated (David Naiditch)
  10. Re: Video-pablo fagundes --virtosity OMG (David Naiditch)
  11. Almost Exactly Like You? (JON KIP)
  12. Re: Tremolo harmonicas (Vern)

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Message: 1
Date: Fri, 24 May 2013 20:19:37 -0700
From: Wilbur Euler <dubyail@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: [Harp-L] Key of E
To: George Miklas <harmonicat@xxxxxxxxx>
Cc: Harp-L <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Message-ID: <18E3182E-AAB8-4509-A8DA-D7C25A2396C8@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Content-Type: text/plain;       charset=us-ascii

George, I second that. E comes up more often than not in Praise Music.
Regards, Wil Euler
Sent from my iPad

On May 24, 2013, at 3:18 AM, George Miklas <harmonicat@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> In Contemporary Christian Worship Music, we are often in the key of E Major
> / C# minor
>
> *George Miklas,* Harmonica Performing Artist and
> Entertainer<http://harmonicagallery.com/>
>
> *THE HARMONICA WIZARD MARCH* by John Philip
> Sousa<http://harmonicagallery.com/sousa>
> -  *Harmonica Repair* Done Right by George<http://harmonicagallery.com/repair>
> -  *HOHNER <http://us.playhohner.com/>* *Harmonicas*<http://us.playhohner.com/>
> *...Just Breathe* <http://us.playhohner.com/>
> *SPAH *- Society for the Preservation and Advancement of the Harmonica,
> <http://spah.org/>a non-profit, membership organization dedicated to
> serving the harmonica community. <http://spah.org/>
>
>
>
>
> On Thu, May 16, 2013 at 1:42 PM, Tony Stephens <tnysteph@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
>> How often is the key of E used? I am a guy still learning. Any advice
>> would be nice.
>> Thanks Tony
>>
>> Sent from my iPhone
>>

------------------------------

Message: 2
Date: Sat, 25 May 2013 04:08:58 -0400
From: Randy Singer <randy@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [Harp-L] Video-pablo fagundes --virtosity OMG
To: randy singer <randy@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>,       "harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx"
        <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Cc: carlos romero harp student <spideycar@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>,       William
        gallison HARMONICA <WGalison@xxxxxxx>,  joe Leones smokey
        <3N037@xxxxxxxxxxx>,    richard hunter harmonica
        <turtlehill@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>,     Rob Paparozzi NYC <Paparozzi1@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Message-ID: <2321DE5D-A922-498F-BF87-E8C09A975FE9@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Now that I've seen this video, I'm probably going to sell all of my harmonicas he is that good...!!!

Check out this video on YouTube:

http://youtu.be/K5GDFgqDUcA

Randy Singer
randy@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Bless the present.
Trust yourself.
Expect the best!!

Sent from my iPhone

------------------------------

Message: 3
Date: Sat, 25 May 2013 09:32:52 -0500
From: Mick Zaklan <mzaklan@xxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [Harp-L] My Take on Remington Ride
To: harp-l <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Message-ID:
        <CAF1Dgr6WCOfnkFRDPJ6+-yS7qELMF8ASdj_-A+-XUp9kZJxCFA@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

   Thank you Darryl, for your version of "Remington Ride".  As a blues guy
myself, it's a tune I've always associated with the late great Freddy King (
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ziRaZaG0FU).  Wonderful to hear it in a
bluegrass context, probably where it originally came from.  Or Western
Swing.
   Darryl ran a very informative and entertaining seminar at last year's
SPAH.  Anybody who has an opportunity to catch the man playing or teaching
certainly ought to do so.  He's top-notch.

Mick Zaklan

------------------------------

Message: 4
Date: Sat, 25 May 2013 07:53:47 -0700
From: Ross Macdonald <pdxharpdog@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [Harp-L] Tremolo harmonicas
To: List harp-l <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Message-ID: <7B937AA5-9CA3-41E0-9171-60F1C2A27E86@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Content-Type: text/plain;       charset=us-ascii

Going into the studio soon to record harp on my bands new album and the producer wants to incorporate some tremolo harp into the mix. I don't have any experience with tremolo harps so I have two questions for those of you who understand the tremolo beast:

1) on a song in E minor, what tremolo harp should a melody line be played on. I can't find a E minor tremolo, not sure what bends can be achieved, or perhaps a D harp in third position would work?

2) are there any tutorial videos that you all could recommend that will explain the tremolo to the uninitiated?

Thanks for any help. 

Ross Macdonald

Sent from my iPad

------------------------------

Message: 5
Date: Sat, 25 May 2013 08:27:26 -0700 (PDT)
From: Ray Carrington <bigraycar53@xxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [Harp-L] insperation
To: "harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx" <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Message-ID:
        <1369495646.22491.YahooMailNeo@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1

I have a question.   I'd like to know who is the most inspiring harmonica player.   I for one heard sonny terry and knew,  no matter how long it took.  One day I wanted to play.   What player inspired some of you.

------------------------------

Message: 6
Date: Sat, 25 May 2013 11:55:35 -0400
From: Eric Miller <miller.eric.t@xxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: [Harp-L] insperation
To: Ray Carrington <bigraycar53@xxxxxxxxx>
Cc: Harp-L <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Message-ID:
        <CAN67YM7LKUVFhGwmn9CdmHtxH24GQJGMqiWC7wCMSUWgHwpjaA@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

For conveying emotion, Jason Ricci is very inspiring...especially some of
the improvisational segments from his early live performances.

For composition and technique Carlos Del Junco and Brendan Power are good
examples of testing the limits of the instrument. And Howard Levy.
On May 25, 2013 11:29 AM, "Ray Carrington" <bigraycar53@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> I have a question.   I'd like to know who is the most inspiring harmonica
> player.   I for one heard sonny terry and knew,  no matter how long it
> took.  One day I wanted to play.   What player inspired some of you.
>

------------------------------

Message: 7
Date: Sat, 25 May 2013 12:15:20 -0400
From: Robert Rowe <robertrowe2@xxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: [Harp-L] insperation
To: Ray Carrington <bigraycar53@xxxxxxxxx>
Cc: "harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx" <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Message-ID: <10DB94F8-EA98-4447-A708-8A9781A6F274@xxxxxxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Oh man, there are so many depending on what phase of my double-nickel life you're talking about. My first inspiration was (I knew no better) Bob Dylan. In my early teens Butter, Blind Owl Wilson. Then I drifted into guitar land where harp was irrelevant. 15 or 20 years ago I developed a new appreciation for harp and became a listening enthusiast (still seeing myself as a guitarist, though). I fell in love with, and collected scores of albums by, the usual list of suspects you would find
on any blues harp enthusiast's iPod.

A couple of years ago it became apparent that I would not be able to play the guitar much longer as the disability in my hands was rapidly taking the dexterity from them so necessary to play stringed instruments. I went to the studio and dug around until I found what has become my musical salvation; an ancient Hohner Blues Harp in C. Don't remember when or why I bought, or why I chose C, but it worked for me to get started. Harp is keeping me connected to the delta and piedmont, and following the migration north to the south side of Chicago.

Today I like players with a slightly different twist. Sugar Blue and Steve Baker get a lot of play time now.

Kelly

On May 25, 2013, at 11:27 AM, Ray Carrington <bigraycar53@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> I have a question.   I'd like to know who is the most inspiring harmonica player.   I for one heard sonny terry and knew,  no matter how long it took.  One day I wanted to play.   What player inspired some of you.

------------------------------

Message: 8
Date: Sat, 25 May 2013 09:17:03 -0700
From: David Naiditch <davidnaiditch@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: [Harp-L] My Take on Remington Ride
To: Mick Zaklan <mzaklan@xxxxxxxxx>, harp-l <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Message-ID: <FF54C3CA-7EA0-4D62-9177-73F5BC4CA526@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Actually Remington Ride was composted by steel guitarist Herb Remington.  Here is one of his many takes from YouTube.

        http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mf-WwptUNW4

On May 25, 2013, at 7:32 AM, Mick Zaklan wrote:

>   Thank you Darryl, for your version of "Remington Ride".  As a blues guy
> myself, it's a tune I've always associated with the late great Freddy King (
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ziRaZaG0FU).  Wonderful to hear it in a
> bluegrass context, probably where it originally came from.  Or Western
> Swing.
>   Darryl ran a very informative and entertaining seminar at last year's
> SPAH.  Anybody who has an opportunity to catch the man playing or teaching
> certainly ought to do so.  He's top-notch.
>
> Mick Zaklan

------------------------------

Message: 9
Date: Sat, 25 May 2013 11:30:29 -0700
From: David Naiditch <davidnaiditch@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [Harp-L] YouTube Dilemma ? Suggestions appreciated
To: HarpL <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Message-ID: <9A20BC5F-208A-47AA-8149-A0DBCFF8977C@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Content-Type: text/plain;       charset=windows-1252

When wanting to look up a band, artist, or tune, many musicians, including myself, begin with a YouTube search.  This posses a dilemma for me since I don't perform much, and when I do, it is rarely videotaped, and when it is, something inevitably goes wrong with the taping.  I jam a lot with various musicians, but since we don't rehearse or work out any arrangements, not everyone wants to be videotaped.

My best recordings were done at studios where I work out arrangements with various guest musicians and we record multiple takes of each tune.  The result, however, is a CD, not a video.  YouTube is considered so important, however, that many recommend that you post the tracks from your CDs, even if all you show is a static photo of yourself or your CD artwork. I find this too boring.  As an alternative, I've tried creating videos from my CD tracks by adding slide shows of various jams and performances, sometimes with artwork and a view clips of video, but the result is hardly ideal.   I even tried using a music visualizer, but that seems even less interesting.

Here are samples of my various approaches:

Slide show (my usual approach)

            http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2CQfFktHu7I

            http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3oc2o7ljY4

Slide show with video clips:

            http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arW5N48urzM

Visualizer:

            http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9NaFFRBPOG0

Artwork:

            http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNTDfOidhzk

 Chord charts for instruction:

            http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=njLjIlYM02o

Any alternative suggestions you have are appreciated.

------------------------------

Message: 10
Date: Sat, 25 May 2013 11:45:09 -0700
From: David Naiditch <davidnaiditch@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: [Harp-L] Video-pablo fagundes --virtosity OMG
To: Randy Singer <randy@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Cc: "harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx" <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Message-ID: <B931D37B-7C22-4042-82BD-53BAFD917671@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

I've seen Pablo in LA several times with Ted Falcon and I'm always impressed by his virtuosity and musicality.  This recording captures his move to modern jazz.  My favorite CD, however, is Transcontinental Music Express.  You can hear samples at:

        http://www.tedfalcon.com/live/

On May 25, 2013, at 1:08 AM, Randy Singer wrote:

> Now that I've seen this video, I'm probably going to sell all of my harmonicas he is that good...!!!
>
>
> Check out this video on YouTube:
>
> http://youtu.be/K5GDFgqDUcA
>
>
> Randy Singer
> randy@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>
> Bless the present.
> Trust yourself.
> Expect the best!!
>
> Sent from my iPhone

------------------------------

Message: 11
Date: Sat, 25 May 2013 12:12:54 -0700
From: JON KIP <jonkip@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [Harp-L] Almost Exactly Like You?
To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
Message-ID: <8355B7B3-31BC-418F-B0FB-702ED0F62A17@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Content-Type: text/plain;       charset=us-ascii

so I'm clearly confused, is "Almost Exactly" an oxymoron?

Nice playing, though, David, thanks for posting

On May 24, 2013, at 5:22 PM, harp-l-request@xxxxxxxxxx wrote:

> From: David Naiditch <davidnaiditch@xxxxxxxxxxx>
> Date: May 24, 2013 5:58:39 PM PDT
> To: HarpL <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
> Subject: [Harp-L] Almost "Exactly Like You"
>

------------------------------

Message: 12
Date: Sat, 25 May 2013 12:51:10 -0700
From: Vern <jevern@xxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: [Harp-L] Tremolo harmonicas
To: Ross Macdonald <pdxharpdog@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Cc: List harp-l <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Message-ID: <A4CA2006-F4CA-4E9D-8311-76E3BF164F26@xxxxxxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii