Stratman713
1 post
Feb 19, 2013
12:46 PM
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Hello all! Wow, y'all sure got a buncha cool jargon over here! Lissen, I need my chick singer to look like a badass harp player on this one cover tune, so I have to ask a newbie question. Which key of harp is right for the piano intro part to "Rocky Mountain Way" in E? You know, that part that goes D, D, D, D-E? Can it be played so that the E is on the out breath? thx, J
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Littoral
780 posts
Feb 19, 2013
1:15 PM
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Any harp can be used, the diatonic works in all 12 keys, but A is most likely.
Beyond that, if you'll give me a quick primer on how BB does that vibrato thing I'll explain the rest.
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Stratman713
2 posts
Feb 19, 2013
1:33 PM
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Lol, some kinda shake, I think! Yeah, I heard from a cat on another board who confirmed the A, and then a bunch of fun stuff like "a 2 hole draw bend and/or a 9 hole blow bend," which I'll have to huff and puff and figure out! That'll sound the E major chord, rite?
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nacoran
6511 posts
Feb 19, 2013
4:39 PM
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So, the first question is, can she bend? If not, you've got to start there. Draw bends are one of the first techniques most harp players learn. Blow bends are usually a little farther down the road, and you want a more airtight harp for that.
It's not about blowing harder, it's about changing the shape of the inside of your mouth.
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Nate
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Zadozica
245 posts
Feb 19, 2013
4:45 PM
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E chord will be drawing on holes 1, 2 and 3.
You might want to just try chugging a rhythm using that chord and work out from that once you get a basic feel for,how the harp line can be used. I'd you want some single notes, hit the 2 draw as your first option, then the 4 draw and then the 3 draw. These are the tonic, the 5th and the 3rd, on the 3 draw, you might want to bend it a little to get more of a blues sound.
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Martin
254 posts
Feb 19, 2013
4:46 PM
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Tonic note on the out breath, is that what you´re looking for? Why?
Usually, this would be played by a majority of harp players on an A harp, just like you heard. If she wants E on the out breath hole 5 draw for the D and then blow 6 for the E will do it. But that can sound kinda wimpy.
If she can´t bend notes (in which case it´s hole 2 for both notes on an A harp -- the E chord on draw 1-2-3) I´d recommend a D harp: hole 4 blow is D, 4 draw is E.
Realistically, you can probably forget about the blow bend on 9, if she can´t play ; that normally takes quite a bit of practising.
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Zadozica
246 posts
Feb 19, 2013
4:49 PM
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BTW - you get the D by bending the 2 draw down one full step - hard to do as a beginner. The E is the straight 2 draw.
Why don't you get an E harp and play first position? The D will be 7 draw and the E will be 7 Blow.
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Willspear
294 posts
Feb 19, 2013
7:27 PM
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Hate to break it to you but handing a harmonica to someone and expecting them to play it like a "badass" is just a stupid idea.
That's like handing a guitar to someone who doesn't play guitar and saying play like Hollywood fats.
All you will wind up with is something akin to a grade school recorder recital.
Harmonica takes at least a little work to not sound awful
Last Edited by Willspear on Feb 19, 2013 7:29 PM
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Gnarly
482 posts
Feb 19, 2013
7:40 PM
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Power chromatic tuning, D6 blow, E6 draw.
| D e | F# g | A b | B c# | and etc.
I tune harps to this, if you want to do it yourself (!), start with a B.
Hole 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Blow 3 3 1 -1 -2 -4 -4 -5
Draw 3 2 1 -1
Holes 4 and 6 have no notes changed, draw notes on holes 5, 8, 9 and 10 are unchanged.
Al Price showed me this tuning (via the Internet)--Brendan Power tuning, this shows up in the Power Bender . . .
Last Edited by Gnarly on Feb 20, 2013 12:06 AM
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nacoran
6513 posts
Feb 19, 2013
9:49 PM
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Willspear, probably true, but if she can get a bend, she'll be miles ahead of most folk players. It also depends on her musicality. I've seen people with a lot of other musical experience and a good ear able to play respectably in 1st position in a couple weeks. If you are one of those people, once you get bending down you can fool most of the non-harp playing audience. :)
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Nate
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Martin
256 posts
Feb 20, 2013
5:27 AM
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@Zadozica: No, 7 D on an E harp gives D#, a minute but crucial difference in many musical contexts.
But somehow I get the feeling that Straman is pulling our legs, ever so gently.
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SuperBee
943 posts
Feb 20, 2013
5:47 AM
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Ha ha what about a C harp so she can play 1 draw for D and 2 blow for E. if that's all she gonna play
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Gnarly
483 posts
Feb 20, 2013
8:44 AM
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As I understand the post, he wants a harmonica that plays two chords, D and E.
That's the Power Chromatic tuning, as I previously posted.
Not available in stores . . . but that would do the trick.
I think I shall create a YouTube . . .
OK, I did that--
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qUig6tnh5QU&list=UUg6egyOg5kGbxxDO_3oV4Tg&index=1
Last Edited by Gnarly on Feb 20, 2013 9:03 AM
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mr_so&so
648 posts
Feb 20, 2013
12:44 PM
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How about using an A harp then do 5,6 or 9,10 draw to suggest the D chord, and 1,2,3,4 draw to get E chord? Those should be easy enough for a raw beginner to hit. She might be able to get a little bending action going on any of the 1-6 draw holes, which may sound good (or bad).
Edit: I see Martin, above has already suggested what I said, basically.
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Last Edited by mr_so&so on Feb 20, 2013 12:48 PM
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SuperBee
944 posts
Feb 20, 2013
1:18 PM
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oh right. where did he say he wants chords? i see he mentioned an E major chord. i dunno...is it obvious if you know the song? i haven't heard that song since 85
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Littoral
784 posts
Feb 20, 2013
1:26 PM
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Fascinating thing, actually trying to answer this question.
Guitar guy reduced the harp to a kazoo.
Hey, maybe that's the answer, she needs a kazoo.
Last Edited by Littoral on Feb 20, 2013 1:27 PM
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jawbone
497 posts
Feb 20, 2013
1:50 PM
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Actually, he said he wants her to "look" like a bad ass harp player - so I would suggest, gain 20 lbs, get dark sun glasses and a fedora then add the kazoo.
But if it is a piano part, why not get her a piano???
There must be some bad ass piano players!!
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If it ain't got harp - it ain't really blues!!!!
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Gnarly
528 posts
Apr 02, 2013
7:02 PM
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OK, so I created a tuning just for this tune--and here it is.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YIiOuce8lG8&list=UUg6egyOg5kGbxxDO_3oV4Tg&index=1
Thanks for your interest.
Last Edited by Gnarly on Apr 02, 2013 7:05 PM
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Gnarly
542 posts
Apr 09, 2013
2:14 PM
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQ8UrkL84GE
The harp in question in action.
I wish I was as cute as the new owner.
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