jnorem
212 posts
May 19, 2014
7:16 PM
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I'm playing a SP20 in G, and I'm wondering how a high G would work for bending notes.
The high G harp would start on G3. But the notes above that on a regular G harp won't bend worth a damn. On my regular SP20 G, I can draw bend hole 7 to get the F natural, but that's it.
So, what's the advantage in a high G?
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Call me J
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SuperBee
2002 posts
May 19, 2014
7:26 PM
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Great dog whistle.
Yeah I can barely get a sound out of the 10 hole on mine. Dunno if that's the harp or me though.
Advantage? Play fast and with less wind than standard G?
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BronzeWailer
1271 posts
May 19, 2014
8:15 PM
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You beat me to it Bee! Jim Conway said he used it to play My Creole Belle, IIRC. I am a High G owner. Very occasionally use it... BronzeWailer's YouTube
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jnorem
213 posts
May 19, 2014
8:25 PM
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That sounded like a C harp played in 2nd position to me.
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Call me J
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BronzeWailer
1272 posts
May 19, 2014
8:35 PM
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@jnorem. I was referring to a version by Aussie band the Backsliders, so may be different to what you were listening to. :)
BronzeWailer's YouTube
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jnorem
215 posts
May 19, 2014
8:52 PM
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Okay, fine.
Now, you've said that you're a high G owner, so my question is how is it for draw bending notes?
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Call me J
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BronzeWailer
1273 posts
May 19, 2014
9:03 PM
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All the draw bends seem to work fine
BronzeWailer's YouTube
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BronzeWailer
1274 posts
May 19, 2014
9:55 PM
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Here's an example of what I use the high G for, J. Just recorded this afternoon. Warning: the dogs may come a running...
BronzeWailer's YouTube
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jnorem
216 posts
May 19, 2014
9:58 PM
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I should have been more specific; I'm talking about second position playing, cross harp.
Last Edited by jnorem on May 19, 2014 10:47 PM
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BronzeWailer
1275 posts
May 19, 2014
11:20 PM
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All the cross-harp bends (draw bends) work, but I don't think it sounds great (in my case, anyway).
BronzeWailer's YouTube
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kudzurunner
4705 posts
May 20, 2014
4:15 AM
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I used a Spiers Stage One high G on this cut:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006HP780M/ref=dm_ws_tlw_trk11/188-6154718-3819646
The 5ob is very slightly flat, but only slightly, and that is NOT the harp's fault! "Alley Cat" on a high G, middle octave, is a ball buster. I don't know if "advantage" quite captures why one would play what I've played here; mostly I was just trying to do something challenging and respond to overblow-haters who complain that they sound "tinny." They don't sound tinny here. I guess the overall effect could be describe as using the harp, a high key amped up, to approximate the power of a trumpet.
Last Edited by kudzurunner on May 20, 2014 4:21 AM
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GMaj7
412 posts
May 20, 2014
5:23 AM
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Hey Kuds.. that's good stuff.. !
As an option for High G..
A shifted tuning.. HIGH G all stainless steel reed
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Greg Jones
16:23 Custom Harmonicas
greg@1623customharmonicas.com
1623customharmonicas.com
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The Iceman
1668 posts
May 20, 2014
6:48 AM
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High G does offer all the bends...you just have to move your reference point for bending further towards the front of the mouth.
I practiced and was able to play Whammer Jammer on High G to refine my technique for high harps.
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The Iceman
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rockmonkeyguitars
86 posts
May 20, 2014
7:40 AM
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Is shift tuning something that is offered in commercially available harps or do you have to retune another harp? I could see great use of this shift tuning but never heard of it till now.
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GMaj7
413 posts
May 20, 2014
8:02 AM
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Rockmonkey Guitars:
It is a specialty tuned Seydel.
It is available through Seydel and of course, through me, as a Seydel dealer.
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Greg Jones
16:23 Custom Harmonicas
greg@1623customharmonicas.com
1623customharmonicas.com
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R2D2
1 post
May 20, 2014
9:24 AM
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It's biggest advantage is it stands out, as Greg Jones points out.
I use it sparingly.
Primarily for brief solo on I'm Ready.
Bends easy like an F.
Last Edited by R2D2 on May 20, 2014 9:25 AM
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barbequebob
2561 posts
May 20, 2014
9:52 AM
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I've used an old Vest Pocket/Piccolo models tuned to high G as well as high A and you do have to adjust to the feel of it as the way it responds will be like playing a stock F or F# and in 2nd position, playing more along the lines of SBWII works perfectly on it. You do need to take sometime to woodshed with it to get used to it.
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Sincerely,
Barbeque Bob Maglinte
Boston, MA
http://www.barbequebob.com
CD available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bbmaglinte
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jnorem
218 posts
May 20, 2014
10:38 AM
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rock monkey: "Is shift tuning something that is offered in commercially available harps or do you have to retune another harp? I could see great use of this shift tuning but never heard of it till now."
I first mentioned it in this thread, called "New Diatonic Configuration":
http://www.modernbluesharmonica.com/board/board_topic/5560960/5461512.htm
No mention of "shift tuning" shows up anywhere on this forum until after I described it in that thread on 02/01/20014; in fact it doesn't show up anywhere until after that.
I call it cross-harp tuning, because that's what it is, and I love it. I have a SP20 in D made to my tuning that's become my favorite harp. Amazing what a difference that one hole makes.
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Call me J
Last Edited by jnorem on May 20, 2014 6:11 PM
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dougharps
615 posts
May 20, 2014
11:00 AM
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I use High G sparingly, and for two purposes:
1) For fast bluegrass or jump/swing style tunes in D major. The regular lower G just doesn't respond fast enough.
2) For second position blues when you want the sound to cut through the mix, and also for when you want to be in a different register than other instruments or harps.
I will often hold a regular and high G and switch between them to change up the sound, just as I sometimes stack a low F and regular F.
As BBQ Bob said, playing a high G harp is a lot like playing a regular F and F# as regards adjusting your playing approach, and does need practice.
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Doug S.
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jnorem
219 posts
May 20, 2014
11:34 AM
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Interesting stuff, thanks guys.
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Call me J
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Michael Rubin
875 posts
May 20, 2014
4:14 PM
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My band plays the Gospel song "So High" I spend the entire song on holes 6 thru 10 on the G harp in second position.
I also use it for bluegrass type songs in D.
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GMaj7
414 posts
May 20, 2014
5:44 PM
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Here's the same concept of a SHIFT TUNING in a HIGH A..
Using an 1847 (All stainless steel)
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Greg Jones
16:23 Custom Harmonicas
greg@1623customharmonicas.com
1623customharmonicas.com
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dougharps
618 posts
May 21, 2014
7:03 AM
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@Michael Rubin
I bet that you do it well, too!
I am certain you are more proficient on the high end of the harp than I am. I can play up there on the high end of a G, but not skillfully enough for public performance of fast jump blues or bluegrass songs at speed. So I have high G harps in my kit.
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Doug S.
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Michael Rubin
876 posts
May 21, 2014
7:12 AM
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My high end concept is essentially a combination of the blues scale and the major pentatonic.
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Frank
4318 posts
May 21, 2014
7:17 AM
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I love to use lots of octaves when playing higher harps like "F" "E" and also playing them using a right TB instead of the normal left TB when exiting out of the octaves into a new phrase :)
Last Edited by Frank on May 21, 2014 7:19 AM
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Michael Rubin
877 posts
May 21, 2014
7:22 AM
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I use octaves and slaps a lot too, more in third but definitely in 2nd. What I keep working at is shifting between blow octaves and draw octaves but with chords bookending the shift. For example:
1. 4 thru 7 blow chord
2.slap to 4 and 7 blow octave
3. 4 thru 7 blow chord (1 through 3 all one breath)
4. 4 through 8 draw chord
5. slap onto 4 and 8 draw octave.
6. 4 through 8 draw chord (4 thru 6 all one breath)
7. 5 thru 8 blow chord
8. Slap onto 5 and 8 blow octave.
etc.
Last Edited by Michael Rubin on May 21, 2014 7:29 AM
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Frank
4319 posts
May 21, 2014
7:31 AM
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Yeah - since the reeds on those harps respond to commands so easily you can really fatten things up with little effort with chords and double stops too. I don't play much single note stuff on those harps :)
Last Edited by Frank on May 21, 2014 7:35 AM
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