Lately I’ve been hearing this sales pitch from effects pedal
makers: “Change things up! Give your audience a little variety!”
Blues harp players have been doing exactly that for at least
the last 65 years without the need for any trick pedals that make you sound like a kazoo or a kaliope.
Loosen
up, baby! Don’t play with a tight cup
all the time. That big tone is best used
for effect, not for your constant sound.
Open up on the bullet mic. Don’t
squeeze it in a death grip every time you blow.
Dynamic Duo!
Change up your volume and attack on the mic. Use dynamics to be expressive. Try
this on a typical 24 bar solo: In the
first 12 bars play low and slow, staying on the low end of the harp. Leave lots of space. As you get to the turn-around move up to the
4 draw, and then the 5 draw to build tension as a transition to the second
12. Ramp up the intensity for the second
12 bars, playing more of the second octave of the blues scale using the reeds
in the middle of the harp. Finish with a
flourish. Smile and wave at the outburst
of applause.
Drop the Mic!
Put your bullet mic away and step up to the vocal mic. Play a few songs acoustically, using all the
cool hand effects. Just get all Sonny
Boy with it.
It’s all about the Chrome! Pull out that big chromatic harp for a couple
songs and blow those big chords, either through your rig or into the vocal mic.
Show it off.
