Re: [Harp-L] 5th position

[Mudharp@xxxxxxx]

In a message dated 9/28/2005 4:54:41 P.M. Central Standard Time,  
harpgawd@xxxxxxxxx writes: <<snip>>

I  believe that all thinking will get in the way of finding the  zone.


I agree with that. But I also know that it's not always about finding the  
zone. Sometimes it's about figuring out new ways to do things which requires  
thinking. Case in point: my band does a lot of funk and soul, R&B etc, plus  
blues. It's usually a good challenge for me because I'm essentially a blues  guy 
but most of the new material we do has no harp on the original  versions, 
leaving me to figure out something that works for the song and  ensemble. We 
recently worked up the OV Wright tune "Blind Crippled and Crazy".  One of the cool 
things about this tune is that the intro is in E-min and then  the song 
transitions to G-maj. So at first I was using a D harp in 3rd  pos for the Em part 
and then switching to a C harp for 2nd in G. Too  cumbersome switching harps -- 
there had to be a better way. Then it dawned on me  that I could use the same 
harp throughout by playing the intro in 5th pos  on a C harp and then to the 
G on the same C harp. The intro fell out perfectly  in 5th and the transition 
was like rolling off a log. Beautiful. But I had to  think about that to make 
it happen. Now if I can only find the zone....
 
T. Albanese