e: [Harp-L] Rick Epping- Blackird at IronLung 2004 -> What Harmonica is that?

["Rick Epping" <rickepping@xxxxxxxxx>]

Correct - it's an XB-40 in G, standard tuning, played in 2nd position.

The slow air that makes up the first part of the piece is actually more like
a version of Caoineadh an Spailpin (The Spalpeen's Lament).  The second part
is the setdance, The Blackbird.

Best,
Rick
------------------------------

>
> Message: 10
> Date: Wed, 7 Jan 2009 08:15:59 -0800 (PST)
> From: Winslow Yerxa <winslowyerxa@xxxxxxxxx>
> Subject: Re: [Harp-L] Rick Epping- Blackird at IronLung 2004 -> What
>        Harmonica       is that?
> To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx, James boutilier <jamesb@xxxxxxxxxxx>
> Message-ID: <93821.69066.qm@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
>
> Perhaps Rick will answer himself, but to my ear this is an XB-40 in G,
> played in D (second position), standard tuning. He occasionally uses the
> extended bending capabilities to play an alternate versions of a standard
> note or to access a note you wouldn't get without overblowing in a standard
> harp.
>
> Certainly for Scottish music, my XB-40 in G gets far more use - in several
> keys thaan the Low D or the A, though they also see a good bit of playing.
>
> Winslow Yerxa
>
> Author, Harmonica For Dummies ISBN 978-0-470-33729-5
>
> --- On Wed, 1/7/09, James boutilier <jamesb@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> From: James boutilier <jamesb@xxxxxxxxxxx>
> Subject: [Harp-L] Rick Epping- Blackird at IronLung 2004 -> What Harmonica
> is that?
> To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
> Date: Wednesday, January 7, 2009, 7:46 AM
>
> Hi all.
>
> New Years Resolution,  pick a harmonica, sit down and put lip to metal.
>
> An admission here... 2 things got me back into taking the harmonica
> seriously
> after thinking Blues was the only thing left to play on the harp (ok, so I
> wasn't very imaginative)..,
>
> 1. Brendan Power's Website -> if that's not an encouraging place to
> make you want to play Irish, nothing is. Thanks!
> and
> 2. One particular performance by Rick Epping on Youtube.  2 versions of
> Blackbird at the IronLung 2004
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wEZI7HOlzNs
>
> Now, I've been back and forth enough times to have walked across Nova
> Scotia at this point, trying to figure out what is being played in that
> vid,  I
> mean what harmonica, key and tuning.
>
> Can anyone give a hand?   I've been trying to figure what harmonicas would
> be the best to start learning Irish and Cajun music, and some kind folks
> have
> been helping set things right in my head (no easy task.)
>
> I've been moving away from the Paddy tuning idea in preference of mixing
> more chord rhythm to the songs.  I'm about 95% decided on that at the
> moment,  but I'd truly like to know what's being played in that song?
>
> Granted, I'm sure a Puck would sound like a Promaster in the right mouth
> --- just not this mouth at this time (grin.)
>
> Thanks mates.
>
> jim
>
> --
>
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