Q&A

-----Original Message-----

Chris wrote in message <01bd5727$ab742aa0$f8e1accf@chris>...
>I recall reading some years ago, that in blues, the key of the blues harp
>is offset some from the key the guitar is playing in. Does this make any sense?
>
>I know songs are written in different chords, I'm wondering which keys for
>blues harp are most commonly used to play blues.
>
>Thanks.

2nd position (in the circle of fifths) or cross harp is mostly what is used
for blues. The harp key is the forth note of the major scale of the key the
song is in. The C major scale is C D E F G A B C with F being the fourth
note, therfore you would use an F harp for blues in the key of C. The G
major scale is G A B C D E F#  G so you would use a C harp for blues in G.
The F major scale is F G A Bb C D E F so you would use a Bb harp for blues
in F.

Glenn T.

-----Original Message-----

Date: Friday, April 24, 1998 9:49 AM
Subject: bend on 7th (draw)


>I was trying out Orpheus, but have severe problems with bending on the
>7th hole.
>My harp (Lee Oscar) disapprove on what I am trying to do. Do you have to
>customize your harp in any way do get hold of that note.
>
>--
>Nils

Nils,
There is no 7th hole bend in Black Orpheus. You may be referring to the 6th
hole OverBlow, 6OB. The overblows and overdraws are very difficult to do
without adjusting the reeds. All you have to do is close the gap of the
reeds as much as possible, but still play without sticking. I use Hohner
Golden Melody harps, regular tuning. As a matter of fact...the 7th hole
doesn't have a draw or blow BEND. The 7th hole can be OVERDRAWN. The 6 hole
OVERBLOW is the easiest to do.  The OVERBLOW tongue position is like the
DRAW BEND tongue position on the 6th hole. Try this: 6D 6Dbend 6OB 6B. Don't
change your tongue position from the 6Dbend to the 6OverBlow. I've attached
a .wav file of this riff.
The OVERBLOWS occur on holes 1, 4, 5 and 6. The OVERDRAWS on 7 and 9.
Hope I have been a help.
Glenn Trojnar

-----Original Message-----

>Hi Glenn,
>
>Do you have any information on how to do overblows & overdraws on the
>harmonica? What holes can you overblow and what holes can you overdraw?
>
>On your harmonica page you have the tab for the chromatic scale on a
>diatonic harp. Are these all the notes that are available on a diatonic
Paul,

The OVERBLOWS occur on holes 1, 4, 5 and 6. The OVERDRAWS on 7 and 9. The
notes go higher in pitch as you OVERBLOW or OVERDRAW, unlike draw bends and
blow bends, which go lower. On OVERBLOWS, the blow reed shuts down and the
tone comes from the draw reed. On OVERDRAWS, the draw reed shuts and the
blow reed plays the note. The overblows and overdraws are very difficult to
do without adjusting the reeds. All you have to do is close the gap of the
reeds as much as possible, but still play the note without sticking. I use
Hohner Golden Melody harps, regular tuning. Hohner harps seem to work better
for OB and OD. The 6 hole OVERBLOW is the easiest to do. The OVERBLOW
tongue position is like the DRAW BEND tongue position on the 6th hole. Try
this: 6D 6Dbend 6OB 6B. Don't change your tongue position from the 6Dbend to
the 6OverBlow. I've attached a .wav file of this riff done on a C harp.

Regarding BENDS: Both draw and blow BENDS lower the pitch of the note. Draw
bend holes 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6. Hole 5 can be bent down, but only a quarter
step for shading the note. Blow bend holes 8, 9 and 10. Try draw holes 4 or
6 first. They should to be the easiest. Draw the note with your tongue
relaxed, then move the back of your tongue towards the roof of your mouth to
create a small air stream there. I've attached a small jpg that shows the
tongue position from and to a bend. The OVERBLOW tongue position is similar,
but the air stream is a bit tighter.

GT

Picture Attachments:

File: bend.JPG

-----Original Message-----

A question from alt.music.harmonica was asked regarding scales for country and scales for blues music.

That would be a PENTATONIC scale. Five notes!
Typically, blues uses the minor pentatonic and country uses the major
pentatonic.

Using C major scale as a reference, the notes of the major pentatonic scale
are C, D, E, G and A or the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th and 6th notes of any major
scale.
Using C major scale as a reference, the notes of the minor pentatonic scale
are C, Eb, F, G and Bb or the 1st, flatted 3rd, 4th, 5th and flatted 7th
notes of any major scale.

In 2nd position or cross harp, the major pentatonic would be draw 2, double
draw bend 3 (2 half steps), draw 3, draw 4 and blow 5. On a C harp, that
would be G, A, B, D and E.  If you can't bend notes, do it up an octave
using blow 6, draw 6, draw 7, draw 8 and blow 8. That's country!

In 2nd position or cross harp, the minor pentatonic would be draw 2,  single
draw bend 3 (1/2 step),  blow 4, draw 4 and draw 5. On a C harp, that would
be G, Bb, C, D and F.  The next octave requires an overblow using blow 6,
overblow 6, blow 7, draw 8 and draw 9. That's blues!

GT

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