I shared a couple of weeks ago that I had been asked to play the national anthem at a big road race.
I've learned the tune in first position and I think that is what I will do. Thanks for all the great advice.
Please feel free to offer suggestions to make it better. I know my TBing is not as smooth and round as I would like and I did vary the rhythm a little. Tongue blocking is still very new to me and playing this style makes me realize how important it is.
I have 3 weeks so I hope I can make it much better..especially the flow.
You're missing the C# every time it comes around ("dawn's ear-ly light".."per-i-lous fight".."flag was still there"); I think you're hitting D naturals instead. I think A or E would be a better substitution if you can't make the 2 draw half-step bend or hole 5 overblow.
Sounds good Duane. You know its a little rough but like you said, you have three weeks to perfect it. I'm sure it will be very well received. One suggestion. There are million ways to play this but like you I too sometimes will play split octaves on the part "...and the rocket's red glare...." When I do, I tend to emphasize the top half of the harp (higher notes) because they carry the melody better and let the bottom half add harmony. Just my two cents. ---------- Tom Halchak Blue Moon Harmonicas
Last Edited by on Jun 23, 2012 9:20 AM
Check you ear timeistight..I hit the bent 1/2 step. It could be a little flat maybe.....but I am surprised that you did not pick out the 5 ob at :28 as I feel like it is on pitch.
As far as the word "still"...I am playing splits and I can't do the 5 ob at the same time as 2 draw 1/2 bent ..so I do neither and play the draw split. I can't find a better option and stay in the split mode.
Maybe I should go back to single notes?
Thanks Tom.... If I practice it a few minutes EVERY day for the next three weeks it should clean up. I'm still not as relaxed as I should be TBing.
I dunno what you'll sound like in 3 weeks, but right now the single note passages sound very good--impressively good. The embellished passages don't sound quite as good.
I will give you my two-cents worth...since I have to play my version next Saturday, first time on harmonica. I've played this song on trumpet, trombone, baritone and tuba in marching bands, concert bands, symphonic orchestras and pep bands at basketball games. I am not a great harp player, but maybe my perspective comports more with your expected demographic of listeners. I play it on harp pretty much as I would (and have) on trumpet. (Maybe I'll try to post my first vid or play it for you on speaker phone if you'd like.) I think the listeners want to hear the melody. They know the words and many listeners sing along. Harp players might appreciate the octaves and such, but your listeners will not. Don't fall into the trap of playing to impress other harp players in this situation. Your listeners aren't going to notice if you miss your bend intonation by 1/8th or 1/16th of a tone. Pick your spots for a LITTLE fruit salad (embellishment). Remember, when the guitar players do a bluesy, distorted amped-up version, they get just as much criticism as they do accolades. Remember to respect the song. Of course, I'm a veteran and former ceremonial bugler, so I'm pretty much a traditionalist in this regard. This all affects my perspective. In any event, I think you're very close to a nice version, whichever way you choose to go.
The National Anthem is a particularly important piece of music. It’s special. Hundreds of thousands of Americans have bled, been disfigured or died for what it represents. And, for each one of them a family suffered a great loss.
I can’t stand it when a singer modifies the original arrangement to give it more “soul” like it's a gospel tune. To me, it’s blasphemy and it’s arrogant.
Don’t burn my flag and don’t mess with my National Anthem.
@Harpdude61: Consider it an honor to be asked to play our anthem at a public event. Play it to the best of your ability (I know you will) and play it as written. Play it with a glowing pride of your country and you will evoke a strong emotional response from your audience. You'll arouse their national pride and awaken their American spirit of patriotism as they listen to you play.
Your audience already knows every note of that music. They've heard it their entire lives. They will compare what you play against what they are expecting to hear. The closer you are to their model, the stronger the connection will be and the stronger their response. Nail the melody. Forget the embellishments. Play it strong and pure.
I'm going to agree with you guys. I'm going to work on the single note style and try to make it proud and powerful. Glad I posted. After re-listening I realize how it kind of went sour during the TBing.
I still think you are missing out with the country tuned harp played in second position.
I'm on vacation, so I had to run out to the truck to make this vid. I have just recently worked it out in 2nd pos, so don't hold me accountable for playing it all that well (I tried it for the first time when you started this process). However, I wanted you to hear the possibilities playing it on a CT harp.
Just FYI. I just really like the melodic possibilities of a CT harp.
Nice job Kingobad! Like you, I just learned it, but since I do not own a country tuned harp I learned it in first. I do see the appeal CT of harp. Thanks for taking the time to share.
Good job you as well Noodles. It sounds like you use 2 draw instead of 3 blow which I should consider . This version is in first...correct?
That's not me playing. I WISH I was that young. I think that the first and last notes are "E". He's playing an "A" harp. 2nd position... sometimes it's hard for me to tell. ---------- Noodles
Noodles-That's my buddy Smoky Greenwell-and if I correctly recall what Harvey Berman told me, he's on a country-tuned harp, although he did learn overblows specifically to nail this song. He has played this a few times for New Orleans Zephyrs baseball games. ---------- Todd L. Greene
I start it on a 3-hole blow, and there are no overblows involved, although you have to watch your intonation on the 2 and 3 hole bends. I've practiced it in four positions, sitting, standing, leaning and crouching. Mostly I play it sitting, so I guess that would be the first position.
I like it in first but now I must decide which octave. I've practiced OBs so much over the last couple of years when I should have probably spent more time on the nuances of the 3 holes bends.
I've got the tune down either way. Just a matter of making it smoother, more emotional, and holding a rhythm. I'm terrible at holding the beat on a slow song without accompanist.
The video at the top of this thread is (I believe) a G harp. The first 3 notes are 3B 2B 1B. The tonic note is a “D”. The song starts on a D and ends on a D…which means, (to me) that you are in 2nd position. It may feel like 1st because of the breathing pattern.
The OB note is the 5-OB – namely, C# (In the key of D)
In country tuning the only difference from a regular, Richter tuned harp is that the 5D is raised ½ step and lays on the harp by design. Which means, the 5-OB is just a plain 5 Draw. You never need to use a 5-OB on a Country tuned harp.
If anyone believes that the harp in the video at the top of the thread is in 1st position, I would be interested in your thoughts. I play by ear and am not a Theory guru. I’m just trying to learn some harp theory. But this is where I’m at. Agree or disagree?
Guys… I’m sorry if I confused anyone. Like I said, sometimes finding the right key is hard for me. I guess that’s from years of looking for the tonic note in a Blues tune to pick out the right harp. I was confused by some sheet music I was looking at. I see now where it is in first. I’ll fess up. I don’t mean to tweak anybody’s reeds. Just trying to be helpful.
@FMWoodeye: There was a discussion at the top about an overblow (just below the first video,) That was a C#, which is a 5-OB in the middle of a G harp and you can hear it in the video. If you play at the bottom, that C# is a 2D(bend).
Well, I did mine before a fireworks show last night, and it went quite well. The only thing I would pass on is that the applause starts right at "o'er the land of the FREE.." (I remember this is always the case at baseball games, too.) I had a nice little triplet flourish up to the ten-hole blow that was drowned out to some extent, but I ended up on a nice fat chord. The toughest part was staying sober until 10:45 p.m. You don't wanna make a mistake on a tune that everybody knows.
@harpdude...the only other thing I can tell you is that a lot of people were singing along, so it helps to make the melody recognizable....at least it helped me. Wimmins were falling at my feet. Of course, I had to drop a handful of $50 bills at my feet....
@Noodles...."the easiest key for the audience is Ab."
Noodles, let them adjust. They're not on the spot...you are. I used a C harp simply because I am most confident in my intonation on the deep bends on that harp.
