Elwood143
1 post
Mar 05, 2014
4:15 PM
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I hold my harp in my right with the low notes on the left! Everything Ive read has told me to either switch hands or hold the harp upside down! Right hand feels very natural to me & so far no ones said anything about my sound... Im interested to know if there are other righties out there & what you do? Thanks
-Dan
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timeistight
1509 posts
Mar 05, 2014
4:48 PM
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Lee Sankey plays upside down so he doesn't count.
I think Carlos Del Junco holds the harp in his right hand.
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Frank
3936 posts
Mar 05, 2014
5:04 PM
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I think Rick Estrin goes righty too?
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CWinter
126 posts
Mar 05, 2014
5:16 PM
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Rick Estrin is definitely a lefty.
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Frank
3938 posts
Mar 05, 2014
5:30 PM
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I thought I saw some weird right handed acrobatics by him while doing his acoustic stuff? I'll have to slow down a video to confirm :)
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jnorem
81 posts
Mar 05, 2014
5:32 PM
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I don't understand. The low notes are supposed to be on the left.
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Call me J
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Frank
3939 posts
Mar 05, 2014
5:37 PM
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Right - it is the right hand hold that is the rarity in Elwoods case and Ricks - I may have to place a bet with CW about Rick - you game CW? :)
Last Edited by Frank on Mar 05, 2014 5:38 PM
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laurent2015
621 posts
Mar 05, 2014
5:42 PM
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Yes, and usually you hold it with your left hand, not the right like Elwood.
oups, sorry speedy Frank!
Last Edited by laurent2015 on Mar 05, 2014 5:43 PM
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Philosofy
517 posts
Mar 05, 2014
5:50 PM
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I hold mostly with my right. I play while driving, and like to have my left hand on the wheel.
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Dog Face
247 posts
Mar 05, 2014
6:18 PM
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Left?
Right.
Right?
No LEFT!
I've seen folks play both ways just as well as anyone else. Personally, I switch hit depending on the situation. What's weird to me is when people turn it upside down with low notes on the right. Keep on keeping on Elwood. What ever feels right to you is right.
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Brad
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Greg Heumann
2630 posts
Mar 05, 2014
10:10 PM
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It doesn't matter a bit if you can get a good cup, acoustically and, if desired, amplified. The most common grip is low holes on the left, harp in left hand - but there are no rules and there are examples of successful players with all different kinds of holds.
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***************************************************
/Greg
BlowsMeAway Productions
See my Customer Mics album on Facebook
BlueState - my band
Bluestate on iTunes
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SmokeJS
233 posts
Mar 06, 2014
2:54 AM
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Philosofy plays while driving. Not recommended and considered to be distracted driving in many jurisdictions. Tell us where you live so we can be sure to steer, pun intended, clear of you.
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jbone
1526 posts
Mar 06, 2014
3:41 AM
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Always been a righty with harp, never play and drive!
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http://www.reverbnation.com/jawboneandjolene
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000386839482
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wa7La7yYYeE
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The Iceman
1504 posts
Mar 06, 2014
5:14 AM
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Have always played with harmonica in right hand.
When I studied cupping and took Joe Filisko's suggestions to heart, I spent a few years learning to hold w/left hand for mic cupping.
Now I can do either, but still prefer the right hand holding.
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The Iceman
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Philosofy
518 posts
Mar 06, 2014
5:17 AM
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@SmokeJS: over the last 15 years, I've driven over 500,000 miles with only one accident: I was rear ended while waiting to make a left turn.
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Jim Rumbaugh
960 posts
Mar 06, 2014
5:27 AM
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I confess to using the right hand.
To further clarify a few comments made above:
Since a lot of the work in blues is done in holes 1 through 6, it is easier to get a good cup when playing acoustically when the harp is held in the left. (or hold it in the right with the harp upside down)
I have noticed my acoustic 2nd position blues tone suffers when I play with the harp in the right. But my 3rd position playing in holes 4 through 10 is fine.
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theharmonicaclub.com (of Huntington, WV)
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isaacullah
2662 posts
Mar 06, 2014
5:53 AM
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I just experimented, and I think I hold the harp about 6 different ways! Which one I use just depends on how I'm feeling or what I'm doing... Some of the different holds I use provide a different acoustic tone, so there's that to consider, but some of them are just stylistic variations.
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YouTube! Soundcloud!
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tmf714
2458 posts
Mar 06, 2014
7:23 AM
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I saw an interview once where Rick stated that he does not know why he does it,but he will play holding the harp in his right hand-he even stated something like-"that stupid thing I do when I play right handed"-
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ridge
489 posts
Mar 06, 2014
7:24 AM
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Hold in my left hand, but low holes are on the right. I've been trying to force myself to hold with my right hand because I do notice a difference in my ability to wah wah compared to players who hold the harp correctly.
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Ridge's YouTube
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tmf714
2459 posts
Mar 06, 2014
7:26 AM
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CWinter
127 posts
Mar 06, 2014
7:26 AM
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Frank, sure I'll take that bet....uhmm, exactly what are we betting on again?
Rick's primary harp-holding hand? I'm going left.
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Silvertone
146 posts
Mar 06, 2014
8:20 AM
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I have always held the harp in the right hand when cupping a mic. But.. I think I have better tone using my left, putting those low notes right over the mic element. Also acoustically I have better hand effect control holding the harp in the left. I've made some half-assed attempts to switch hands but find my left cramps up pretty quickly.
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Frank
3946 posts
Mar 06, 2014
8:22 AM
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CW...hope it's something good we're betting, I already have a can of hair paint so that's out - I was hoping you would know what the bet wins :)
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CWinter
129 posts
Mar 06, 2014
8:32 AM
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I've seen him play so many times. We used to see Little Charlie & The Nightcats way back in the early 90's. Must have seen him a dozen times or more. Really, he always holds the harp in his right hand? Really?
How about the loser, maybe me?, burns the winner, the best harp CD he has (that the other guy doesn't have)and sends it on...
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Frank
3947 posts
Mar 06, 2014
8:35 AM
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He uses his right hand, when did "always" enter the conversation - I was hopin for some cash, but I'll accept a check :)
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1847
1545 posts
Mar 06, 2014
8:36 AM
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2014-02-27 18 50 08 from bob cooper on Vimeo.
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i get a lot of request when i play my harmonica
"but i play it anyway"
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1847
1546 posts
Mar 06, 2014
8:46 AM
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it's no different than switching embouchure's
tongue blocking to pucker
i quite often hold the harp like getting a drink of water, i think tom ball does that also.
what ever feels comfortable at the time.
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i get a lot of request when i play my harmonica
"but i play it anyway"
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LSC
604 posts
Mar 06, 2014
9:11 AM
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Always have held the harp in the right hand just because that's the way I first picked it up and didn't know any better. After nearly 4 decades I tried to switch as it would be better but just can't. The whole angle of the harp changes for a start. The weird thing is I play chromatic holding with the left hand because the button is on the right and have no problem. Knowing there are techniques that are weakened by my wrong handed technique I sometimes wish I would have done it differently in the beginning. I've done pretty well but I think I could have done better.
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LSC
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CWinter
130 posts
Mar 06, 2014
9:22 AM
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Frank,
After watching some YouTube vids, it looks like he uses either hand...imagine that. I think it's mostly his right that he holds the harp. There's a video of him playing Marion's Mood where he's holding harp and mic in left hand. I guess when he starts playing, you sort of forget which hand it's in....
How much cash? ....I'll put that check in the mail right now.
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tmf714
2460 posts
Mar 06, 2014
9:31 AM
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Rick holds the harp/mic in his left hand when playing amped,right hand sometimes when playing acoustic-but not always-he does switch it up-
Last Edited by tmf714 on Mar 06, 2014 9:33 AM
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Frank
3948 posts
Mar 06, 2014
9:33 AM
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I was lucky , I went from memory and that can be dangerous...I'd say this was a tie...I will arm wrestle you though if you're over 50 years old... winner gets a can of pringles, I love those darn things :)
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tmf714
2461 posts
Mar 06, 2014
9:33 AM
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Playing amped with mic/harp in right hand
Last Edited by tmf714 on Mar 06, 2014 9:35 AM
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tmf714
2462 posts
Mar 06, 2014
9:36 AM
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So Rick is ambidextrous-I never really noticed,but there you go-
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