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Date: Mon, 6 Aug 2001 14:26:02 EDT
From: Roscoha~ol.com
Subject: Harp & Sax

- --part1_ae.18bab37d.28a03b3a_boundary

I've been playing in a band (Blues Controversy) with a Sax player for ten
years , three years ago we added a trumpet & often a Bari player who knows
our tunes sits in. We play as a horn section. We usually avoid unison parts
because intonation problems really stick out. I am still trying to perfect
my
section work, but there are a few things I've worked out thru trial & (a lot
of) error. THESE ARE ALL MY OPINIONS: First, I think an overdriven amp sound
blends best with horns. I use a little chorus to fatten up the sound; I try
to find the right harp for the lines I'm playing, usually whatever is
easiest
- -it could be any position as long as the lines are smooth. I think mid &
lower range harps sound fattest for most parts, in our band harp usually
fits
between the Sax (Usually tenor) & Trumpet. I don't read very well , so I
have the Sax player record the harmony I should play & then woodshed it
till
it's right. On an improvised part, I just try to find a nice harmony. We
don't build our harmonies around the capabilities (or "limitations") of
harp
so sometimes I need to use overblows & overdraws--this is the most difficult
thing I do on harp & I am far from perfect at it. Playing overbends in tune
with horns ,or guitar for that matter, is an ongoing challenge for me. Horn
bands can be quite loud so hearing yourself is another challenge. I finally
gave up & now lug a Bassman to gigs. (You can see a description of my whole
rig on my homepage, link to it from the Blues Controversy site). There's a
lot more boring technical stuff that any interested people can e-mail me
about privately, but the above is the basics of what I've learned about
playing with horns. Hope it helps,


Later, Rosco
Blues Controversy's Home Page

- --part1_ae.18bab37d.28a03b3a_boundary

I've been playing in a band
(Blues Controversy) with a Sax player for ten

years , three years ago we added a trumpet & often a Bari player who
knows

our tunes sits in. We play as a horn section.  We usually avoid
unison parts

because intonation problems really stick out. I am still trying to
perfect my

section work, but there are a few things I've worked out thru trial
& (a lot

of) error. THESE ARE ALL MY OPINIONS: First, I think an overdriven amp
sound

blends best with horns. I use a little chorus to fatten up the sound; I
try

to find the right harp for the lines I'm playing, usually whatever is
easiest

-it could be any position as long as the lines are smooth.  I think
mid &

lower range harps sound fattest for most parts, in our band harp usually
fits

between the Sax (Usually tenor) & Trumpet.  I don't read very
well , so I

have the Sax player record the  harmony I should play & then
woodshed it till

it's right. On an improvised part, I just try to find a nice harmony. We

don't build our harmonies around the capabilities (or "limitations")
 of harp

so sometimes I need to use overblows & overdraws--this is the most
difficult

thing I do on harp & I am far from perfect at it. Playing overbends
in tune

with horns ,or guitar for that matter, is an ongoing challenge for me.
Horn

bands can be quite loud so hearing yourself is another challenge. I
finally

gave up & now lug a Bassman to gigs. (You can see a description of
my whole

rig on my homepage, link to it from the Blues Controversy site). There's
a

lot more boring technical stuff that any interested people can e-mail me

about privately, but the above is the basics of what I've learned about

playing with horns. Hope it helps,




                                                                        

Later,  Rosco


                              HREF="http://www.bluescontroversy.com/">Blues Controversy's Home Page


- --part1_ae.18bab37d.28a03b3a_boundary--