Re: [Harp-L] What would Charlie Musselwhite do?

[The Iceman <icemanle@xxxxxxx>]

Pros default to whatever position suits them...most pros learn more than 3 positions to have more choices.


Charlie is pretty proficient at many positions.



-----Original Message-----
From: Ross Macdonald <pdxharpdog@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: List harp-l <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Fri, May 31, 2013 1:29 am
Subject: [Harp-L] What would Charlie Musselwhite do?


Hi, I am meeting with our record producer for our new album next week for 
pre-production.  This new album will have a Tom Waits-like feel to it with few 
instruments and will have harp on most tunes.  Something like his Orphans: 
Brawlers, Bawlers and Bastards record.  I know that Charlie played most of the 
harp on the record (John Hammond played some too).

One of the tracks on our record is a slow but swingy 50's kind of private-eye 
thing in E minor.  I am Ok doing this in 3rd position on a low D harp,  but not 
at all in 4th position on a G harp.  If I am being honest, once you get past 
1st, 2nd and 3rd position I am basically a bit lost. Do the pros generally 
default to 3rd position as the go-to position for minor tunes?  Is it worth 
learning 4th position for more than just changing it up on a minor tune?  Is 
there a fourth position tutorial out there on youtube i could study?

What would Charlie default to on a E minor tune?  Im thinking whatever position 
the harp would be played in,  it would need some tremolo and reverb to get the 
mood I think it needs.

Any help would be appreciated.  

Ross Macdonald