Tweed
42 posts
Apr 12, 2010
10:11 PM
|
I understand that some F Harps are tuned "low F". What exactly does this mean? How do I determine if my Special 20 F is tuned low, natural or high if there are such tunings?
Thx
Tweed
|
mojojojo
40 posts
Apr 12, 2010
11:06 PM
|
Exactly? I think it means the reeds are all tuned one octave lower (think shifting left on a piano keyboard).
C Harp normally starts at Middle C, and a standard F harp is up from that. If your F harp sounds higher in pitch than your regular C harp, it's a standard F harp.
Some mark the harp with LC for Low C, for example.
|
nacoran
1645 posts
Apr 13, 2010
12:00 AM
|
Seydel also makes a Low Low F, another octave lower than that.
There are several different note naming schemes around the world. Like mojojojo said, the C harp starts on Middle C. On sheet music that's the note that gets it's own little line through it between the Treble and Bass clefs.
Middle C is also called C4. It gets a little confusing because the note numbering doesn't start at A. It starts at C, so the note right below C4 is B3. A regular F harmonica is F4. A Low F harmonica starts on F3 and also has the F4, F5 and F6. A Low Low F starts on F2 and includes F3, F4 and F5. It's the lowest normal diatonic harmonica available. Since higher harps are usually easier to play bends on it's really tough to bend, and it's kind of quiet compared to higher harmonicas. To get the reeds to play such low notes Seydel puts tiny weights on the end of them.
A lot of the harmonica companies sell harmonicas from Low F to High G. The highest diatonic harmonica I've seen advertised is a High A.
----------
Nate
Facebook
|
Ev630
242 posts
Apr 13, 2010
12:30 AM
|
You'll know because the pitch is deeper than your G harp. Your regular F harp is a piccolo pitched pip squeak of a harp that can call dogs.
|
Kyzer Sosa
336 posts
Apr 13, 2010
12:45 AM
|
i havent bought an F harp for that reason EV...
----------
Kyzer's Travels
|
waltertore
388 posts
Apr 13, 2010
3:29 AM
|
here is a song with a delta frost low F. Walter
delta frost boogie in low f
----------
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.
" No one can control anyone, but anyone can let someone control them"
2,000 of my songs
continuous streaming - 200 most current songs
my videos
|
DeakHarp
14 posts
Apr 13, 2010
5:47 AM
|
I call my Lo F my secret weapon ...i got a costom Deak Harp Lo F ... Air tight ...I had a hell of a time finding a reed for it when i blew out the 1 draw ...I found it in a G harp it was a blow reed 2 hole i think filed it down a half step ... Got the harp running in the hotel with 10 min to spare ...the hotel was right on the grounds of the festival ....Hot Aug Blues Fest in KY .. we tore up the stage .....and the harp worked great ......
|
Buddha
1592 posts
Apr 13, 2010
6:31 AM
|
I spent a full year playing everything on my low F harp in an effort to development my acoustic tone
----------
"The privilege of a lifetime is being who you are." - Joseph Campbell
|
congaron
811 posts
Apr 13, 2010
8:14 AM
|
I used a low F harp at our local jam and people really liked it, both the guys in the jam band and the audience members.
It really sounds beefy on mic and cupped into the PA.
|
harpdude61
85 posts
Apr 13, 2010
8:57 AM
|
I bought a Suzuki Promaster low "F" since Golden Melody does not make one. I like using it in 3rd position on minor blues in G. Great harp but a little tighter than my GMs.
|
congaron
813 posts
Apr 13, 2010
9:12 AM
|
I have a promaster and a couple of special 20s...i like them tuned both ways.
|
barbequebob
693 posts
Apr 13, 2010
10:34 AM
|
Low F's as well as Low Eb's are fun harps, tho they can be tough harp to play for a newbie to play at first. The stock tunings in those keys are too shrill sounding for playing in more of a jump blues style or working with horns and the low key versions work much better and you can play with a more horn like attack with those keys.
|
Tweed
43 posts
Apr 19, 2010
4:25 PM
|
Thanks to all who answered my question regarding lo F harps. I look forward to getting one.
I'm going to David Barrett's workshop in May and need to buy a lo F and upgrade some of my blown out harps. About a year back there was a thread commenting on several retailers specifically Musician's Friend, The Instrument Store, Coast to Coast, and Rockins Ron's Music. I was thinking of getting Bushman Delta Frosts or Suzuki Bluesmasters that have worked for me in the past.
Any recent experiences with these retailers that could be shared on line?
Thx again.
|
