Re: [Harp-L] Orange Blossoms for Dummies

[Winslow Yerxa <winslowyerxa@xxxxxxxxx>]

Nowadays I play fiddle tunes mostly on harps in G (matches the fiddle) and Low D (gets underneath the fiddle and plumps it up), having developed some ability to play at speed. 

While it's certainly possible to develop speed on any key or type of harmonica, I think it's probably a bit easier physically on high-pitched instruments. The incident with me regretting Orange Blossom on a G harp (and I think it may have had double thick reedplates) was years ago, before I started playing fiddle tunes. Orange Blossom tends to be a stunt tune for harmonica players who otherwise have no association with fiddle tunes. Fiddle tunes require speed that is seldom heard in blues, so the "stunt" player, as I was at that time, is going to face some challenges.

Charlie has always struck me as someone who preferred the upper range of harp keys; some folks do (Popper and Rice Miller are two others that come to mind).

Winslow

Glenn Weiser <celticguitar1@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:       Winslow-
  
 I can play fiddle tunes very fast on any scale  harp, although I do find 2nd position blues unwieldy on a G scale. I'm not sure  why Charlie chose those keys.
  
 -Glenn
  
 ----- Original Message ----- 
    From:    Winslow    Yerxa 
   To: Glenn Weiser ; harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx    
   Sent: Thursday, April 03, 2008 1:10    PM
   Subject: Re: [Harp-L] Orange Blossoms for    Dummies
   

I wonder why Charlie chose C into F. Maybe the quick response    of the high-pitched F-harp non the fast melody stretch as opposed to a lower    pitched (and somewhat more sluggish A harp. (I remember once trying to do it    on a G harp and regretting the choice).

Winslow

Glenn    Weiser <celticguitar1@xxxxxxxxxxxx>    wrote:   Winslow-

It      should be mentioned that fiddlers play this tune in E going to A.      

-Glenn      Weiser

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