Re: [Harp-L] music/playing/technique/styles



Since I've figured out how to toungleblock blow bends, my playing and TONE
has improved a lot, and not just in the upper register. Work on first
position songs, get the Mitch Kashmar c.d. and just do it. Other favorites
are Rod Piazza and Mark Hummel. Yes, proper gapping makes it easier to
learn, but once you're good it's less important. Once you can do that well,
other discoveries soon follow, at least in my case.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "samblancato" <samblancato@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Friday, June 10, 2005 11:24 AM
Subject: [Harp-L] music/playing/technique/styles


> Hi everybody,
>
>
>
> TO follow Pierre's lead, I have a question about technique the some of you
> other guys might be able to help me with. And then I have a tip too.
>
>
>
> First of all, I have always had a hard time working holes 7 - 10 into my
> playing.  Now, it's not that I'm not familiar with the b/d patterns up
there
> or the notes I can get from those holes.  My problem is more with sound
> facility.  I just can't seem to get the notes to sound in a fluid way.  Is
> it just a matter of breaking the reeds in or are there gapping and
embossing
> type mods I can do to make these reeds more playable.  I realize an E or F
> harp is going to have it's limitations regardless of what you do but A
> through D aught to be able to work well and while I can get my harps to
play
> really well on the 1 - 6 holes I am at a loss for the upper holes.  Any
help
> would be great.
>
>
>
> To change the subject and make a contribution toward the musical/playing
end
> of things I have this tip for you blues players out there. Pick yourself
up
> a copy of T-Bone Walker, The Imperial Recordings.  This is a 2 disk set
and
> there isn't a lick of harmonica anywhere to be heard on any of the approx.
> 40 songs.  What there are, though, are tons and tons of superb horn
phrases,
> both lead and rhythm that you can work into your playing. What makes them
so
> great is that most of them are musically very harp friendly.  There is a
> great deal of chromatic work(stuff that you'd be hard pressed to produce
on
> the short harp) from the horns too but still plenty of stuff you can
easily
> produce on your diatonic. The other thing that makes these horn lines such
a
> mine for harp material is that they are mostly rhythm lines but they are
> intricate and very stylish at the same time.
>
>
>
> Apart from this aspect, it's just great music- hours of great blues songs
> full of T-Bone's ground breaking guitar work, much of which is also horn
> inspired.  I find the phrasing in much of this music seeping into my
playing
> even when I'm not trying to put it in there.
>
>
>
> Later,
>
>
>
> Sam Blancato, Pittsburgh
>
> _______________________________________________
> Harp-L is sponsored by SPAH, http://www.spah.org
> Harp-L@xxxxxxxxxx
> http://harp-l.org/mailman/listinfo/harp-l
>





This archive was generated by a fusion of Pipermail 0.09 (Mailman edition) and MHonArc 2.6.8.