Re: Which blues harp should I buy

On Mar 30, 10:16 am, "Lasse W. Wehner"
<lww_cardtrader@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
I've been thinking for awhile now about adding some simple blues harp to my
repertoire. Just really plain simple for starters, but I cannot seem to find
out which one I should buy, though I know what I am looking for:

I'm not really advanced myself so I can't give too much advice. But
Hey, I started with just a set of plain old marine band harps. The
cheaper harps don't bend easy but that just gives you a chance to work
on your technique!

What I want is a harp that can be used in the standard "funk jam in E
dorian/mixolydian" situation - I guess that would take two harps, like an
A-harp for Mixolydian and a D-harp for Dorian. Is this correct?

The deal is that in blues one usually plays "cross harp" which means
that if you want to play in E you use an A harp. And yeah there are
other cross harp positions used as well.

Then I tried reading here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blues_harp

But the entry about the Lee Oscar harp being different from a 'normal' blues
harp got me confused. I was planning on buying a Lee Oscar harp, but now I'm
no longer sure.

These special Lee Oscar harps (they make all kinds) are for playing in
minor keys. That is why the scale has been "adjusted". This would not
be your main harp. You'll also note the "ultra bending" harps as well
with extra reeds to allow a huge bend. Not cheap, and I've never
bought one, but I do have to get one to try one of these days.
Probably easier for a newbie to get a good bend.

Any recommendations from some of you who may have some experience playing
both bass and harp what would be best for me?

More considerations are an amp. I use my Laney Combo for harp. It's
very bright for a bass amp and works pretty well if you tweek the EQ.
You need a mic (I use a standard drum tom mic with the stand bracket
removed) which is converted to high impedance with a mic to line
transformer and then goes to a reverb pedal (important for good harp
sound) and thence to the amp.

Thats about what I know. I think musicians friend of one of those
places had a great deal on a set of cheapo blues harps in ALL keys!
That and a case for them (I've got the Hohner case...love it) would be
the place I'd start!



.

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