RE: [Harp-L] Reggae Music

[Warren Bee <wbharptime2@xxxxxxxxx>]

I had the pleasure of doing a half dozen gigs with a Reggae Band on the
East End of Long Island. Almost all weddings. Sweet paying and fun gigs. I
had very little reggae experience but it worked out great. A personal love
of listening to reggae music sure helped. Second position licks fit in well
on many tunes. I found myself leaning towards a much more percussive style
and definitely worked on a less is more basis. Lot of fun "piccolo" licks
up in the high end of the harp used at strategic times worked really well
to add spice to the mix. The mindset for me is really more about "coloring"
the tune. When a break came I kept it short and sweet. Playing along with
steel drums and lots of percussion in the grooves was a blast.

While second position works well in reggae I find that minor keys are used
frequently as well. I love playing fifth position on these tunes. Third
works well too and I am sure that some here can blow it out in other
positions.

To start trying to do some reggae stuff my recommendation is to close your
eyes and get carried away in a tropical paradise frame of mind first before
even putting the harp in your mouth. Just listen. Think less and feel more.
Find the groove and sparingly add the spices and colors that you feel. You
don't have to play a lot of notes to accomplish this. After that there are
many way to expand on your presence. I use the same approach to reggae as I
do to gospel music. Take a little trip and let your breath flow across the
brass (or stainless) :-)

No Worries

WB