[Harp-L] Re: playing only one key of harp

[<jaguire@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

re:  others have stated:

When I read Tinus' post, which ends with the question what others are afraid
of, I have to ask Tinus what he is afraid of. The closest I can gather from
his message is when he says, "Other key harps freak me out."

Anyone who has listened to any of his clips knows that he has taken his
diatonic in 'C' a very long way. In a word, he's good. I think maybe he is
just not done yet on the one harp.

I'm not afraid of you playing only one key of harp, Tinus. I'm just
wondering
how far your musical horizons would expand if you were to begin to check
out different keys. I bet a lot of ears would turn your way.

John


> - I came to the conclusion that for me the only way to learn to play in
> 12 keys on a harp was to stick to one harp and not "cheat" by changing
> harps for difficult keys.
>
> And at a certain point I had gotten so used to doing this that there was
> no going back.
>
> - Other key harps freak me out.
> - Playing one harp is just what I do and people better start accepting
> it.
> - I would sooner stop playing and become a singer than play chromatic or
> multiple key harps

--------------it's not just about turning other people's ears, it's about 
fully enjoying your chosen instrument...jeez, any one of us could just as 
easily ( way more easily i think) have chosen piano or guitar as our main 
instrument that we put all our blood, sweat and tears into but we chose to 
produce musical sounds with the humble blues harp--cuz it moves us somehow 
( albeit some of us melding the instrument to a  big tweed  Fender amplifier 
and a tightly cupped microphone thus creating a beast that defies 
description).  for instance,  i can practice piano or guitar with very 
little effort,  when i decide to plug in and practice chicago-style 
amplified blues harmonica it's very similar to when i go to the gym for a 
workout, i will be sucking wind and cracking a sweat just like i'm working 
out...piano doesn't do that....  not to belittle the behemoth piano or the 
fabulous electric guitar, they are monsters in their own right.

to wit:

...............well heck,  why not try a D-harp ...that harp will rock your 
world,   why not try an A-harp....that harp drips honey,  why not try an 
F-harp ?  listen to the unrivaled mr. andy just's song "talk is cheap"  ( 
which i cover in my band ) ..that'll take paint off your ears..but in the 
bestest way....why not try an E-harp, that rocks like crazy too, a Bf-harp 
( if you can convince your band heh heh) ?..that harp is just full of 
possibilities on all 10 holes my friends...i wouldn't generally  want to 
nail a huge V-chord wail bend james cotton-like on an A-harp or G-harp like 
would on an E-harp or a D-harp or F-harp,  it's freaking fun.    that dude 
who will only play one key of diatonic harmonica is missing out on the full 
appreciation that playing diatonic harmonica has to offer...viva la 
difference ( pardon my french)  applies to harps just as much as it applies 
to chicks, no?

cletus