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From: Mike Curtis
Date: Wed, 14 Jan 1998 13:35:40 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Re: Using Overblows

> > right key harp for the best sound, etc.>

I pretty much agree with this, although I personally take it well beyond
1st thru 3rd positions. I have played a lot in 4th position for most of
my life, well before I was even aware of "positions". I simply called it
"A minor on a C harmonica". I find "fourth position" to be much less of a
mouthful.

I have likewise used 5th, 6th, 10th, 11th, and 12th positions well before
knowing about "positions", simply because they prodived the "right" sound
for the songs I wanted to play. For example, St. Louis Blues goes from a
minor to a major, and swings best IMHO in a major, so I use the key of C
minor (relative minor of Eb, or 10th position) and C major (1st position)
because it's what works. (This works on unvalved as well as valved
instruments)

Adding valves makes it possible to get missing notes, of course, but it
also gives me some GREAT sounding bends and glissandos I wouldn't
otherwise have.

While I like the notes, it's the MUSIC that is important. What good are
notes if they sound bad and make the audience think that you're some kind
of second rate musician? Anyone who plays ONLY for harmonica players is
probably going to have VERY small audiences :-)


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