Hi, I'm a beginner on the harp (~four months) and am greatly enjoying learning how to play blues on this fine instrument.
I really like the Carolina Chocolate Drops and would like to learn to play their tune "Snowden's Jig" on the harp (with the harp replacing the fiddle part).
I don't know how to paste this youtube video directly into this post but if anyone could just click on it and watch it for a few seconds, I'd greatly appreciate it, and then let me know: what key harp would I play this on, and in what position. If I had the answer to those 2 questions I could probably figure out how to transcribe it on my own. Tune seems to be in A minor:
I'm not the best person to respond to questions about music theory! but I'll give it a go. Assuming it's in A minor which I believe it is then I had a go at 3rd position on a Bb harp and soon found I had to play an overblow which might not be helpful as you're a beginner. -3-3+5OB+6+5+5 =(part of the riff)
Then tried 2nd position on an F harp and got +5+5-7+7-6-6, however the higher phrase seemed to me to need an overdraw on 7 (another note you'll probably want to avoid) other notes that seemed to fit were a 6 draw bend and 5 draw.
I used a Low F harp for this as High F might sound a bit too shrill.
Anyway that's got the ball rolling. Others may find a better key to use and correct any music theory mess-up's I've made ;°)
It sounds Phrygian to me, so I would play it in 5th position. Haven't tried to figure out the key, but I'm pretty sure it's doable in 5th. You would use an F harp to play A minor in 5th position. Root is B2, B5 and B8. Minor 3rd is D2/B3, B6, B9.
But, fiddle parts are rarely playable on harp note-for-note.
Edit: It may be in E minor (C harp in 5th position).
Last Edited by on Apr 13, 2012 12:04 PM
Ah looks like I've made that taking the relative minor mistake yet again! But F has worked best for me so far (as I said above) with the exception of needing the overdraw on 7. I'll have a go at a couple of more keys. ---------- Grey Owl YouTube Grey Owl Abstract Photos
Last Edited by on Apr 13, 2012 12:07 PM
If it's actually A minor try a C harp in 4th position (use D6 for root). I was just fooling around with it using a C harp and the notes seemed to fit. I don't have an F harp handy at the moment.
Last Edited by on Apr 13, 2012 12:09 PM
Instead of trying to play the song note for note, why not add to it with comps , fills and maybe a short solo. I find it more rewarding to compliment a fiddle (Violin) rather than compete with it.
I've NEVER been able to duplicate a fiddle part note-for-note on harmonica. If you have to alter, skip, or approximate a note here or there, don't worry about it. Try 5th position.
