The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #32917   Message #456319
Posted By: dr soul
05-May-01 - 02:42 AM
Thread Name: Help: What harmonica do I use?
Subject: RE: Help: What harmonica do I use.....?
Amen! I love that Low F Lee Oskar. Harps in the lower keys (G, A, and the low F) give a chunkier, twangier tone, so this one really gets it. If the band is in C, I'll put the normal (high) F harp in my shirt pocket and just comp with the Low F harp, playing rhythm behind the verse. If I get a solo, I'll pull out the high F because the higher tone cuts through the band. The best of both worlds!

By the way, the all-time low chunky harp tone belongs to Sunny Boy Williamson (Rice Miller), recorded live with the Yardbirds, on "Bye Bye Bird". He's playing a special Marine Band harmonica in the key of C, but an octave lower than the standard C harp. If you play straight harp you'd be half an octave under Sonny Boy!