Re: [Harp-L] low tuned harps for Rice Miller

[philharpn@xxxxxxx]

So I begged the question. C is not the only key for today's 12-hole Marine Band -- add D and G.
Available at Amazon ($44-52). So everybody must carry it. 




But the question is low-tuned harps, not 364 harps anyway-- whose availability might or might not influence  their selection. 


 Again, does anyone use the low tuned harps for Rice Miller/aka Sonny Boy II songs? 
I heard a SBII song last night in a club in the key of B (on an E harp) and it sounded a bit high pitched to me. But then anything can be played in any key -- when the blues police are not around. Even Rice Miller stuff.




The modern plastic comb low-tuned harps would seem a natural progression -- being smaller to hold, cup, tongue block, U-block and pucker. Also, for those who might like to expand their repertoire, low-tuned harps come in a variety of keys from a variety of makers.


The 12-hole 364 Marine Band features the famous wood comb and for those who just love the taste of wood, it arguably can't be beat.


Phil Lloyd
Contributing Editor emeritus
American Harmonica Newsmagazine
Harmonica 101 -- Instructor
Doctor of Music
Belle Isle Conservatory (WQRS)






-----Original Message-----
From: Winslow Yerxa <winslowyerxa@xxxxxxxxx>
To: harp-l <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Thu, Sep 19, 2013 7:01 pm
Subject: Re: [Harp-L] low tuned harps for Rice Miller


The 12-hole Marine Band #364 model is currently available in Low C, Low D, and 
G. The recordings of him I've heard from the early 1960s, including concert 
film, seem to use only the Low C and Low D. If he used other low keys, I haven't 
heard them.
 
Winslow Yerxa
Author, Harmonica For Dummies, ISBN 978-0-470-33729-5
            Harmonica Basics For Dummies, ASIN B005KIYPFS
            Blues Harmonica For Dummies, ISBN 978-1-1182-5269-7
Resident Harmonica Expert, bluesharmonica.com
Instructor, Jazzschool for Music Study and Performance


________________________________
 From: "philharpn@xxxxxxx" <philharpn@xxxxxxx>
To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx 
Sent: Thursday, September 19, 2013 1:30 PM
Subject: [Harp-L] low tuned harps for Rice Miller
 

Has anyone been using the low tuned harps for Sonny Boy II (Rice Miller) tunes?


He used the 12-hole richter tuned Marine Bands that used to be available in 
several keys before only C was available.


These harps had a low first octave (lower than the standard 10-hole).


And since this is the main focus of Rice Miller, why not? Since the harps he 
used are no longer available.


Phil