[Harp-L] Hip Nursery Rhymes

[dmf 273 <dmf273@xxxxxxxxx>]

My favorite nursery rhymes to play on diatonic harmonica are "Pop Goes the
Weasel" and "Turkey in the Straw".

I like "Pop Goes the Weasel" because its trickier than you might think with
a very hip bridge. (Hip enough to have inspired a jazz variant called "Bop
Goes the Weasel").  And yet it is possible to play the entire tune
(including bridge) on a Richter Harp in 1st position without any bends.
Give it a try, its a good exercise!   You can play the "A" section in either
the middle or the high register with no bends required.    Once you've got
the melody down, try swingin' it!

I also  like "Turkey in the Straw" in 1st position because of that very
bluesy #8 blow bend that kicks it off, but its a workout if you want to play
the entire tune, requiring a 5 overblow and a precise #10 1/2 step blow bend
(that one's a killer for me!)