What do guys think of the low f harp.I think it would be cool for key of c blues but would you still play the blues scale. Or just hang on the 1 vi v root notes?
What reason would there be to only play root notes?
A low F is not *that* low. Still, in a amplified jam it may not get heard. Is that what you mean? Because as I see it, it's a matter of context; it can be used very effectively as a bassline instrument but it is also very capable of a solo. It depends on the song.
I struggle with the 1 draw bend, and the 2 draw whole step. Apart from thAt it's cool. Got one a them fandangled thunderbird harps. That's kinda weird to fit in the face at first ----------
Do not delay roadharp they are fantastic and addictive. They are great for playing deep rumbling chords and chugging.
They will bend nicely but take a bit more effort because they can feel 'airy' and you will need to make a deeper oral chamber on the low bends and this feels strange at first. However this is good for developing stronger tone anyway, so it's a win/win situation.
Here I am playing a real nice bluesey melody in Low F.
I like the Low F and use it racked a lot when I sing in either F or C. Great for C blues. Definitely amped for a band setting. I've also been having a renewed interest in my low C MB 365 . Quite a nice vintage sounding growl. I've been working on it some to tighten up the sound.
I used a High F at gig the other night, as it was full drums' electric fiddle, and bass.
Just got a Lee Oskar LF and been tongueblock noodeling in third with that nice "All blues" vamp. Really nice for some mellow, acoustic stuff but I haven't started playing amped as yet and not with a band either so... ---------- Pistolkatt - Pistolkatts youtube
i have a low F i use sometimes but rarely in 2nd position. it does a nice 3rd position G. i prefer my normal F for 2nd. if i want a deeper fuller key of C a Bb in 3rd is good choice.
OT. i have an Echo Vamper low C with bell metal reeds. it is smooth and funky but very mellow w/ serious low end. in my opinion the newer 364/365s have more cut. so do other smaller newer diatonics of the 10 hole variety. ----------
MP doctor of semiotics and reed replacement.
"making the world a better place, one harmonica at a time"
I've never read the low F rules, but a useful harp. I have the 364 and a custom MB, fun to play. The jams I go to play in C often so it's nice not to play the reg F so often.
Yep, as has been stated, great for rhythm in 2nd and 3rd position, but don't try doing a fat solo in 2nd as the reeds won't respond quick enough. High end third position is great on this harp though and really gutsy on the low end in 5th.
I love the low F!!!! It's only a whole step lower than G. My current Low F is a Thunderbird. C low end licks really growl and thump. Am and Dm sound nice and mellow. F highend licks sound really loud and powerful. I play the low F alot more than the standard F. The only time I play the standard F is if I'm covering a high vocal line. Like Clo Green's "F*ck you" Great on the F, muddy on the low F. I've never really had trouble being heard on a low F. Now I have a low low F (LLF) that my crysal mic barely even picks up. That thing is alot of fun to play. I'm still trying to figure out what exactly to do with it though. Haha ---------- C. Adam Hamil Free Reed Instrument Technician
Ohh yeah, And Low F IMO is the absolute best key harp for playing train imitations. ---------- C. Adam Hamil Free Reed Instrument Technician
Last Edited by on Mar 21, 2012 4:53 PM
"Ohh yeah, And Low F IMO is the absolute best key harp for playing train imitations."
A low E is even better!!! :)
I use a low F for slower songs where I'm playing backup. Sometimes I'll use both the regular F and the low F on the same song. I'm using a low F in the studio currently to double the same licks I recorded on my regular F in certain places of the song. The octaves sound really cool.
man i gotta get me one of these, everyone hates them. F harps are kinda shrill and get on my nerves and everyone elses. this has to be the way to go munchin a low F into a shure unidyne straight to the pa.
Yeah, I don't carry a regular F anymore--at one point (I am a guitar player) it was the only key I carried with me, since it is so easy to do the draw bends. Currently I bring a case with dozens of keys and tunings, and a chromatic. I play, admittedly, mostly solo, if I played with a loud band, I might want to have a regular F--and a high G!
Last Edited by on Mar 22, 2012 3:13 PM
I'm sure i remember Buddha saying(a long time ago) that he learnt everything on a low F as a young boy, i'm sure he said he learnt how to control bends on a low F, That's all he used to practice on for a long time.
He defiantly recommended the low F as the first low key to go for when i asked which i should buy first. Its here on some thread somewhere:o)
Personally i'm not keen on regular F, its just to shrill for my taste. ----------
http://www.youtube.com/user/fiendant?feature=mhum
Last Edited by on Mar 22, 2012 12:03 AM
