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From: Mike Curtis
Date: Tue, 13 Jan 1998 12:58:36 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Re: Valves - When and Why

On Tue, 13 Jan 1998, Samuel J. Gravina wrote:

>Mike Curtis wrote:
>>Valved bends are often capable of VERY deep bends. On my valved C, I can
>>bend 5B from E down through Bb, for a total of six semitones.
>
>Mike (as he has mentioned a few times) has perfect pitch. Thus I believe
>that he can more easily use a reed with six available semitones then the
>rest of us.

IMHO you don't require perfect pitch. you just need to be relatively in
tune. If you can handle 3Dbb reasonably well, valved bending to pitch
will not be all that tough.

To get those six tones, you REALLY have to crank the bend.

>I have yet to try diatonic values and intend to someday but I don't expect
>it to be as easy to play as a chromatic.

They're different instruments and IMHO should be viewed as different.
I feel they're useful for different things, each valid in their own way.
I get effects and such from valved diatonic that would either be difficult
or impossible on a chro. And of course diatonic is perfect for racked
play, even though Vern plays his chromatic in a rack using a foot actuated
slide.


-- IronMan Mike Curtis
My CD "Doin' It All Myself" available in Tower, Blockbuster, Camelot, PX