Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Mark Werner on September 2, 2009 at 11:40am

Other keys may be theoretically available, but are not as convenient to play nor do they sound as good as the "2nd position" does, at least for blues.
This position puts most of the common blues-progression notes and chords in the "suck" holes, and it's much easier to bend and tweak notes on the draw than it is on the blow....

Really skilled guys can do amazing things with a standard diatonic harp, like play full chromatic scales. We have a local guy, Sandy Weltman, who can spin out chromatic scales all over a standard diatonic harp.
Damn his eyes.... Have a listen:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=51C3xBOhz1Y

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Permalink Reply by Mortimer Snerd on September 2, 2009 at 3:43pm

Hohner makes Cross Harps, just what you wanted to hear, figure that one out.

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Permalink Reply by Brian Lemin on September 2, 2009 at 10:34pm

Goping to buy a harp tomorrow to play with my Dad CBG. What key shall i buy pleasae? The easiest as i have not yet learned to bend notes!.

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Permalink Reply by BLY on September 3, 2009 at 3:59am

1st, 2nd position is typically used for major key songs. 3rd & 5th positions are ideal for and often used for minor key songs. Highly skilled harp players can play in all 12 keys with one harp. Check out Howard Levy. Jimmy Reed & Bob Dylan played in 1st allot. Charlie Musselwhite on the other hand uses 3rd, 4th & 5th positions allot. I use 1st, 2nd, 3rd & 5th most of the time depending on the feel of the song. Playing in different positions adds variety and style to the music being played. It's like using different types (Strat, Les Paul) of guitars for certain songs.

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Permalink Reply by Wes "I'm Baaaaack" Yates on September 3, 2009 at 4:41am

... or do you mean DAD CBG?

Brian Lemin said:

Goping to buy a harp tomorrow to play with my Dad CBG. What key shall i buy pleasae? The easiest as i have not yet learned to bend notes!.

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Permalink Reply by Brian Lemin on September 3, 2009 at 8:10pm

I have bought a Lee Oscar in G, and have just finished reading the leaflet. For a start i did not know that not all the notes could/needed to be bent. I am beginning to understand "cross harp" but still confused to some extent.

The leaflet says to play in cross harp, 2nd position I would draw on #2. That seems OK but is that equivalent to the lower note of the scale?

Just been away and blown it. love it, getting some change in note but not the lovely bend i hear in others.

You are going to say practice. I am going to Google the subject and see if i can find some lessons.

tinyguitars said:

Hmm, how confusing is that? LOL! if you're tuned DAD, then I would suggest buying a Hi G tuned harp, I just don't like the lower tuned ones, no volume

Wes Yates said:

... or do you mean DAD CBG?

Brian Lemin said:

Goping to buy a harp tomorrow to play with my Dad CBG. What key shall i buy pleasae? The easiest as i have not yet learned to bend notes!.

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Permalink Reply by HOLLOWBELLY on September 3, 2009 at 10:07pm

I play my cbg in AEA and so my harp is in D.I tell people who ask that I play in A cos it suits my voice which is a half truth (what I dont tell them is its easier to bend a harp in D than it is say a harp in A or F.) I dunno why it is- maybe the reeds are physically longer and therefor harder to bend?
dunno if this helps!
btw,I learned the very little I know listening to Jimmy Reed then just endlessly playing his riffs til I got it down.I recommend Jimmy-he's great.

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Permalink Reply by Brian Lemin on September 4, 2009 at 3:06pm

OK. I Can bend draw notes when practicing to draw on one specific note. Cant do it whilst playing a tune.

Cant bend and blow notes!

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Permalink Reply by Tres Seaver on September 4, 2009 at 4:07pm

Brian Lemin said:

OK. I Can bend draw notes when practicing to draw on one specific note. Cant do it whilst playing a tune.

Cant bend and blow notes!

You're in good company: according to my Tony Glover "Blues Harp - Instructional Method" (one of the first books ever published on the subject), bending on the blow notes is at least 134 times harder than bending on draw notes.

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Permalink Reply by Brian Lemin on September 4, 2009 at 5:03pm

So that sounds as though i should "give up" on the bending of blow notes(Great) :) It does say something why cross harp is more popular, as most of the bending notes you would use are draw notes ( I hope I have got that right)

It is good to be playing again. I started playing in Sri Lanka in boarding school when i was 10 years old, 61 years later i still enjoy it. (Good job I never smoked!)

Must learn some blues tunes.





Tres Seaver said:

Brian Lemin said:

OK. I Can bend draw notes when practicing to draw on one specific note. Cant do it whilst playing a tune.

Cant bend and blow notes!

You're in good company: according to my Tony Glover "Blues Harp - Instructional Method" (one of the first books ever published on the subject), bending on the blow notes is at least 134 times harder than bending on draw notes.

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Permalink Reply by Mark Werner on September 5, 2009 at 4:28am

I've got that book, it's pretty good. These things are very hard to describe to someone how to do.

The best I can think of for getting a bent "blow" note (and I'm no expert) is to really purse your lips to make a smaller stream of air and blow HARD. Try to experiment with changing the direction of the air stream as well, like you're trying to bounce it off the side of the harp's soundhole instead of going straight in.
I find I can get several different tones on the draw by trying to change the air-stream direction. It's like trying to pull the air "down" into the bottom of your mouth.
That sounds odd, and I'm sure that's not what's really happening, but it does seem to work.

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Permalink Reply by Mike Willmouth on July 4, 2012 at 2:04pm

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