I know I'm probably a bit behind the times on this one but I have been listening to the harp solo on hook by john popper. The only part I am not confident I can learn is that one high note which I believe is probably the 10 overdraw.as I don't buy my harps customised is it possible to achieve this note on a d harp just by altering the reeds height from the reed plate? For me embossing is out of the question as is arcing, I have never really achieved overdraws before and I want that note....
He's hitting the 10 blow bent with some attitude in it. It's really the entire lead up to that note that makes it seem other worldly.
To answer the other part of your question, no, you don't need a custom to do this. In my experience, many players struggle with the upper register of the harmonica and it gets a little more difficult with the higher key harps.
You could try closing the gaps for the 10 hole draw and blow reeds every so slightly. These are tiny reeds and only need minimal adjustment to improve their response. Check out this video from Joe Spiers.
Yep, Popper uses blow bends up there so far as I can tell. I don't think I ever heard him play any overdraws, but Ridge or Mike Fugazi might know.
I am not an overdraw player, though I sometimes use the 5 and more often the 6 overblow. Probably due to not having harps set up to be conducive to OD.
Other than a few elite players, I doubt the 10 OD is used very often or at all. From what I have heard, the 7 OD is the most used OD.
Does anyone here OFTEN play ODs other than the 7OD?
Who? Which ODs? ----------
Doug S.
Last Edited by dougharps on Jul 30, 2017 8:54 AM
I've got "pretty big ears" and, to date, have not heard any OD in Popper's playing. Can't seem to remember hearing any OB, either, but don't really listen to a lot of Popper. ---------- The Iceman
"Does anyone here OFTEN play ODs other than the 7OD?
Who? Which ODs?"
Yes, I do, though not extremely often. 7-10. The reason I say not extremely often isn't because they're overdraws, but because going past hole 7 and into the really high end of the harp is something I use sparingly for impact and effect.
They're great for duplicating licks normally played in the lower octave of the harmonica.
He doesn't overdraw during that tune or any other I can think of. He for sure uses the 6 overblow on occasion, but not during this solo either.
He does hit the 10 draw in a couple of places on Hook, which stand out alongside the 9 and 10 blow bends.
Here is an example of playing Hook where I don't play his solo note for note, but do play the same blow bends and 10 draw.
I might get flamed for this, but I find stock harps with minor gapping to be better for this style of music than customs.
I can build some pretty awesome harps, but generally have found them to be overkill that last couple of years...especially for playing non-blues music with full bands.
If your technique is good, you can get harps to overblow and overdraw without needing a full blown custom. ---------- Mike My Website My Harmonica Effects Blog
@Todd Thanks for jumping in to answer my OD question. I just haven't noticed many people using ODs up at the high end except maybe Howard, Jason, and now, you. Maybe Mike Fugazi, too. I don't know about how frequently they are used by Ridge and Adam Gussow.
@Mike I didn't think I heard John Popper playing the 10 hole OD.
"If your technique is good, you can get harps to overblow and overdraw without needing a full blown custom."
I use a couple OBs, but my OD technique is NOT good, since I haven't yet successfully executed even one other than a faint squeal. However, I really have not put a lot of time and effort into it, either, just occasional random attempts.
I am impressed by people who can play overbends with decent tone at speed, integrating them into the music in an appropriate way.
The music and style I play doesn't demand that I use the technique, so I have not focused upon learning it.
I enjoy overbends when they are used musically and not superfluously in a show of technique. ----------
I use ODs all the time, but find that I don't sustain them very long. There are a few clips of me sustaining a 7od online, but I don't do it a ton as I don't play a ton of blues. ---------- Mike My Website My Harmonica Effects Blog
@sharpharp - I think I have the Blues Traveler "Four" songbook that has both guitar and harmonica tabs in it. I'm pretty sure Winslow said he wrote the transcriptions for all of Popper's playing for that book in a recent thread (I never knew that before). Not saying it will convince you even if the book says it, but I'm really confident there's no overdraw.
For what it's worth, I used to be a pretty big BT fan boy and studied Popper's style almost exclusively during my formative years of playing. That's not a badge of honor, nor does it make me an expert on the subject, but I have spent considerable time and effort trying to play this song and solo among many other songs in the BT catalog from their self titled album up through Straight On Till Morning.
I wish you luck in your quest. May you find your own truth! ---------- Ridge's YouTube
I believe overblows give you the chromatic scale in the lower octave, overdraws giving you the chromatic scale in the Second octive so a wise man once said
