LevelUp
28 posts
Sep 16, 2017
4:55 AM
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So I just ordered a Gazell method harp from PT. I've been listening to him for three days straight and decided I had to learn to play half valved.
I thought about this before, even bought a cheap valved harp. Valves started sticking so I took them off and turned it into a regular harp.
But that was before I really listened to PT. Now I've got one a good one on the way. Never played a Seydel before either, only SP20, GMs, and MB. If it all goes well I'll pickup some ultra suede and half valve one of my harp sets.
It'll be frustrating to have to change the breathing patterns for my core set of licks that use a lot of overblows. But I think the shading you can put on each tone may be worth it.
I ordered a Bb so that I can use a Trumpet fake book to get started on some standards.
I'm curious to know what other people have experienced with half-valved harps.
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SuperBee
4968 posts
Sep 16, 2017
5:32 AM
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My personal experience was not much and not good. But those harps were/are virtually unplayable even unvalved.
But I had some vicarious experience when I was taking lessons from Jimi lee while he was learning to play valved 1847s, I suspect he may have obtained from PT or maybe Greg Jones.
Anyway, if you know JL you know he had pretty good command of overblow technique, so playing chromatically was not a problem for him, but he told me what attracted him about valved was the different possibilities it offered for so-called 'layout' of notes. He demonstrated this to me a few times, playing melodies. JL plays a lot of songs with more than 3 chords, and is proficient in 11th-6th positions. He based his playing on 2nd position (I.e. For the I chord) but follows the changes often based on playing a different position for each chord. Like that's the knowledge he brings to his playing. So he was playing melodies on that basis and showed me How the breath patterns he was using with valves worked more smoothly for particular melodies than Overblows.
At the time I was feeling valves were like impossible, based on my experience with these promaster harps so I just never seriously considered playing with valves. Raising the 5 draw a half step was giving me plenty of stimulus to learn, over blowing was up the road, valves a place I was aware was pretty cool, but never expected to visit, kinda like Greenland.
Last Edited by SuperBee on Sep 16, 2017 5:33 AM
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Sarge
638 posts
Sep 16, 2017
5:50 AM
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I have three of PT's harps and I really like them. I'm not proficient in using them as they are intended, but like the way they play.
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Wisdom does not always come with old age. Sometimes old age arrives alone.
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Harp Study
250 posts
Sep 16, 2017
6:11 AM
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I have a lot of PTs harps and I have half valved a bunch of my own. I first got a pro master that was valved but the valves rattled. I don't have that issue with PTs harps or the ones I have done myself. I am hooked on them, but I don't play much jazz.
Last Edited by Harp Study on Sep 16, 2017 6:52 AM
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wheel
563 posts
Sep 16, 2017
8:16 AM
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I don't want it to look like selfpromotion but I've recorded my last album using half-valved harps (Gazell method valves). PT Gazell reviewed it.
You can find more info in this post
http://www.modernbluesharmonica.com/board/board_topic/5560960/5496372.htm
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Konstantin Kolesnichenko(Ukraine)
http://kolesnichenko-harmonica.com/
Last Edited by wheel on Sep 16, 2017 8:41 AM
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