Just wanted to thank isaacullah for his vids on half-valving. It has absolutely revolutionized the diatonic for me. Had no idea how easy it is to add valves and to start incorporating valved bends into one's playing. Here's a little vid- I don't intend this as a plug: it's harmonically very simple and quite sloppy in general. Rather, I hope to spread the gospel about half-valving. This video was made after 5 days of playing half-valved. Here, "Georgia on My Mind" is played in 1st position, which is impossible without OBs or valves. Also, since it relies primarily on blow notes when played in 1st, valving is required to get the expressive shading this song calls for. It doesn't hold candle to Christelle or Charlie McCoy's version of course, but I hope it inspires someone to watch Isaac's vids and give valving a try:
Last Edited by AlexArkansas on Mar 13, 2013 1:09 PM
Had to play a 6 blow bend during the bridge. I don't think that note is available with standard bends. More than willing to allow that I'm wrong though!
@AlexArkansas: Wow, man! You just really made my day! I'm so glad that my little videos helped you so much... You never know what effect they have after you upload them, so I'm really happy to know that they inspired you to give valving a try. All I was hoping for was that they might inspire at least one person to give it a shot, and now I know that I've achieved that! Thanks!
@Martin I am intrigued as to how you play georgia. How do you play the accidental in the middle 8?
Ignoring the verse as there are loads of accidentals there and not many people know the chorus If you play in C there is an F# It's in the last bar of the first page in the following link
http://www.wikifonia.org/node/799#/C/-5/1
That's the note that can be played by valve bending the 6 blow
@Lumpy: Use a low keyed harp (preferably). Start on 8B, and there you go. Or play it in 12th (which I tend to do) and start on 6D ... but then we´re on to another topic.
@Martin You are obviously a much better player than I am. Starting on 8B means that you need the 9 Blow bend to get the F# [assuming a C harp 1st position]. And the 10 Blow bend for the top Bs
I guess that means that you are technically correct that the piece can be played without OBs or valves, but I think the spirit of the OP is that it can't be played in 1st position without the more advanced techniques. ie more advanced than draw bends ---------- "Come on Brackett let's get changed"