Darren Watson
30 posts
Jan 20, 2015
1:52 PM
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I've decided I want to add some harp playing to my 'thing'. I will have to primarily be playing on a rack while I play guitar. I know it will be a long journey but I'm wondering if any of you who have experience with rack playing have any tips to save me some find out for myself time?
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waltertore
2793 posts
Jan 20, 2015
2:47 PM
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Darren: I may be in the top 20 of long term harp rack players :-). I have been doing it since I was a teen and am now 58. I went through countless modifications with the only rack that was available- the old Dylan/jimmy reed one. I kept thinking it was the rack that was not fitting me right because I was accomplished enough on the harp to gig with guys like Lightning Hopkins and such. The real problem was learning the harp rack is just like learning a new instrument. Coordinating the 2 instruments and getting use to the rack is a long term thing. Honestly it took me about 15 years to sound pretty good and I was doing it full time most of those years and often I would put in 10-15 hours a day. I had no kids, no skilled profession, no car, and lived wherever I could as cheap as possible. That allowed me the time but my biggest problem was buying harps. Even at $5 I struggled to keep a set that wasn't wore out. Like anything one can take it as short or far as they like. I judge my music against the greats so I am very critical and as of today I completely satisfied with my harp rack playing as well as my 1 man band sound and my recording quality. So I have arrived to the point where I can begin to make and record good sounding music. I would buy a farmers foot drum harp rack. IMO it is the best out there for 10 -14 hole harps. Walter
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walter tore's spontobeat - a real one man band and over 1 million spontaneously created songs and growing. I record about 300 full length cds a year in the Tunnel of Dreams Studio.
" life is a daring adventure or nothing at all" - helen keller
my videos
Last Edited by waltertore on Jan 20, 2015 3:00 PM
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Darren Watson
31 posts
Jan 20, 2015
3:20 PM
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I hear ya waltertore but I'm not looking to be a god of the harmonica. Good tone and a bit of colour is what I'm after. I am full-time so I have practice time. I'm also a quick study. I also realise it'll take years. I'm only 48 and plan to be playing for as long as I'm breathing.
Any particular harps or racks easier to start with?
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waltertore
2794 posts
Jan 20, 2015
3:29 PM
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Darren: I use marine bands and the farmers foot drum rack. Since you have time on your hands you have everything needed to get with it. I wanted to be a great lap steel player. I backed up Sonny Rhodes for a few years and did a bunch of gigs with Freddie Roulette. I figured since I play the guitar the lap would be easy. I found it just didn't hold my interest enough to get good at it. I know being a full time musician is often full of great experience but not always enough $ to afford all one needs. You can start with the basic $10 rack to see if it holds your interest. Have some fun and let me know if I can be of any more assistance and thanks for following the musical dream. It is becoming an endangered speicies. Walter
PS: I need to correct my statement about how well I play and comparing it to the greats. I really mean I just want to be satisfied with my sound and be good enough to be free to find it.
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walter tore's spontobeat - a real one man band and over 1 million spontaneously created songs and growing. I record about 300 full length cds a year in the Tunnel of Dreams Studio.
" life is a daring adventure or nothing at all" - helen keller
my videos
Last Edited by waltertore on Jan 20, 2015 5:05 PM
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Danny Starwars
21 posts
Jan 20, 2015
3:31 PM
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Wait ... THE Darren Watson?? :O
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My YouTube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ2_8CnjaiNLcPke4gWQ65A
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Komuso
470 posts
Jan 20, 2015
4:34 PM
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>>Any particular harps or racks easier to start with?
Suzuki Manji's are excellent bang for buck harps.
Rack? I like the Hohner Flexrack. Works for me.
Currently using it with a strnad harp mic, stock, but I mangle it with FX anyway, which you can hear some of here:
Komuso’s 7 Tracks In 7 Days
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Paul Cohen aka Komuso Tokugawa
HarpNinja - Your harmonica Mojo Dojo
Bringing the Boogie to the Bitstream
Last Edited by Komuso on Jan 20, 2015 4:36 PM
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shakeylee
28 posts
Jan 20, 2015
4:44 PM
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darren,you could start right now without a rack. just fingerpick an open tuning with your right hand and try a harp with your left.
if that is no problem,go tomorrow morning and buy a rack :)
there is a thread a few down on racks.
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www.shakeylee.com
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shakeylee
29 posts
Jan 20, 2015
4:51 PM
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as a side note to walter:i backed sonny up for a while too.he could make you work,couldn't he ? :)
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www.shakeylee.com
Last Edited by shakeylee on Jan 20, 2015 6:25 PM
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waltertore
2795 posts
Jan 20, 2015
5:22 PM
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shakeylee: Sonny was cool. We did gigs in the SF bay area and northern CA. His red caddy, his turban, Ana next to him, and his cool suits....... We have stayed in touch till recently. He wanted to get back to TX for gigs when I was living in Austin but he was in NJ then and it never came together. My friend was managing him and we got together in NJ. I hear he is on hard times. That is sad. All Sonny wanted back then was to tour. He got his wish and I hope his health improves. The last time I saw him was playing in CA about 10 years ago. We hung out for the evening and he just kept saying " Walter Tore a Fxxking teacher. Man I can't believe it. I should have finished college". His health was bad then and he was struggling to get by.
Here are a couple live recordings with him from back around 1979 and early in his lap days. I am on harp and Indiana Slim(Lonnie macks cousin) on second guitar. I remember this gig. These were the last 2 songs of the night and the dance floor was packed with slow dancers. It was up in Sonoma County and green grass was filling the room all night....... I refused to hold a mic with the harp so it was always a battle to be heard. I had a hard head back then:) Walter
sonny Rhodes since I met you baby
sonny Rhodes down home blues
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walter tore's spontobeat - a real one man band and over 1 million spontaneously created songs and growing. I record about 300 full length cds a year in the Tunnel of Dreams Studio.
" life is a daring adventure or nothing at all" - helen keller
my videos
Last Edited by waltertore on Jan 20, 2015 5:30 PM
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indigo
41 posts
Jan 20, 2015
10:03 PM
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you've done the Hard Roads, a Bluesman for sure Walter..love your stories.
Darren in NZ shops we usually have a choice between a Lee Oscar and/or a Hohner Marine Band and that's it.
Lee Oscar are equal temperament and the HoHner is comprised tuned ,knowing your music i'd recommend the HoHner.
Enjoy your journey.
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