Believe it or not after all these years this is my first ever Low harp, a Special 20 in F. I hadn't realised what I was missing. It's a lovely key to play and I'm finding it difficult to put the darn thing down.
It feels like the harp equivalent of Lee Marvin singing 'I was was born under a wandering Star' in the movie 'Paint your Wagon' uhmmm now there's a thought.
Even a C harp sounds impossibly shrill to me at the moment.
Anyway I hope you like this piece, it's another JJ Milteau song, called 'Fragile'.
@sustaireblues. Thanks Joe! I'm still trying to figure this stuff out myself. I think it's in the key of C, so playing on an F harp would be 2nd position!?! Grey Owl YouTube Grey Owl Abstract Photos
I really love my Marine Band Low F. In fact I recorded the Band of Brothers Theme (Requiem for a Soldier) using my low F & the diatonic tabs you supplied.
Wow. That sounds really good there Grey Owl. I love the low harps. They have such a great mellowness of tone. Higher harps are punchy, and break through the mix well, but for pure tone, you just can't beat the low harps!
Great sound and playing as usual GreyOwl. Where do you get or what do you use to produce all of the jam/backing tracks you play with? I've bough a few CDs with tracks on them, but they are all limited in styles.
Thank you very much guys for your kind and generous comments, I really appreciate it.
I am putting the finishing touches on a tab for the piece and I'll post it soon for those who like to use tabs.
Jim said "My new project will be something you've never heard before. It will be low."
Ha Jim you're such a tease!! :) You've intrigued me now - what are you going to play/build! How low I wonder??
I had the privilege and pleasure of playing a Jim Spiers low Bb recently. All I can say is wow and furthermore..WOW. What a lovely instrument. I haven't experienced deep resonant, reverberations in my stomach since I ate a dodgy curry a couple of years back.
@Reverblow I get my backing tracks from various sources, some paid for, some free midis, a guitar backing track site that's not bad (http://www.guitarbackingtrack.com/) free youtube blues backing tracks and in the case of Fragile I patched a recording together of the instrumental interlude in the song and played over that. Grey Owl YouTube Grey Owl Abstract Photos
Here as promised is a tab I have worked out for the song.
Fragile by JJ Milteau/Galvin
Tab by Grey Owl 2/3/2011
-3*/-3 = one step draw bend on 3 released to draw on 3 -5gliss-2 = draw on 5 slide down to draw on 2 ~ =pause -2**= two step draw bend on 2 [+2TB+5] =blow holes 2 & 5 together blocking holes 3&4 with tongue (-3*-4*) = 1 step draw bend 3&4 together
The following tab is what I believe JJ Milteau plays, through to the instrumental part of the song. I have played it just a little differently adding a small improvisation at the end of a line. Also at the end of this tab I play a little improvisation and then return to part of the tab.
@GOPA you are a true gentleman Sir, thank you. I know only too well how much effort was required in just typing that lot in without working out the tab as well. I am very appreciative of your hard work. Thank you. ----------
Great playing , Greyowl. Love those low harps , just like you ,not long time ago I bought 2 low special 20's . I find out that they sound even better(imo) with a set of open back and vented sides covers. Now you gotta take the next step and get a low D. I also think they are a great way to improve your chops.
Greyowl: That sounds really good! I remember when I first got a low tuned harp I couldn't touch a C,D,F,E for months. Walter ---------- 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. " life is a daring adventure or nothing at all" - helen keller
Wonderful playing! A low F actually sounds a little high to me these days--the low D and low C are also really fun harps to play--and they're kind of like weight lifting for the chops to get the bends on them. . . ---------- ==================================== Always be yourself--unless you suck. . . -Joss Whedon
Jim Low A? Sorin. Yes I agree. Getting these recording levels right is proving a problem. I can't hear the distortion while playing but can on playback. I'm coming out of my 5watt amp via an old fostex 4 track recorder (doesn't seem to be peaking here) into my pc (crumby onboard soundcard). Getting the backing track at the right level, then the harp is tricky. I'll have to spend more time doing trial runs.
Walter and oldwailer. They are seriously addictive!! and as I mentioned above the low Bb I played was phenominal, but I think I'll go down a step at a time to get used to the transition. They are certainly tougher to play in some ways yet on the other hand the harp does a lot of work for you with that lovely resonance on blow and draw chords and you find yourself wanting to just take your time and enjoy the sensation.
O well here goes yet more money on low harps now:)
