[Lowboy]

Hi,

So I managed to get a recording of my exploration into making my Hohner HM-36 sound like a harmonica. I can see there is a long way to go and much experimentation yet to come. My playing technique must change too.

While not the greatest performance, I thought some of you might be interested in at least hearing the sound. This is a solo recording of an off-the-cuff jam. Image this sound through a harp amp with lots of power tube distortion! Imagine it through a wha wha pedal to imitate the wha wha effect harp players produce by cupping and uncupping their hands. When I play this sound along with a blues recording, it really drop right into the songs nicely in most cases. So here it is.

[audio src="http://webpages.charter.net/lowboy/MELRIFF1.mp3" /]

When I get a better recording, make an advancement in technique, or get it sounding better, I will post another recording.

Lowboy

[Lowboy]

By the way, the audio clip is about 2 minutes long. If your player does not show a timeline, you might think the clip ends at the first pause about 4 or 5 measures into the jam. Lowboy

[Kevin]

I’m listening to this Lowboy. I think I hear what you are shooting for.
Are you aware of this video?

This fellow is trying to emulate the overdriven harp sound also. At one time I thought it might be you!
I can tell you’ve spent some time behind a Hammond, you definitely have that in there, It makes me imagine if the Hammond was never invented and Jimmy Smith was sitting down at a pump organ. Very Tasty licks! Keep posting your explorations.

[Lowboy]

Hi Kevin,

No, that is not me but we share the same hat!

You are very observant. My accordion teacher turned me on to Jimmy Smith decades ago and Smith has been a big influence in my organ and now melodica playing.

Thanks for the compliment.

Regards,

Lowboy

[Lowboy]

Kevin,

I will check out the video tonight when I get home from work and offer any observations. Thanks for posting that.

Lowboy

[Kevin]

You’re welcome Lowboy.
I like where you are headed with this.
It’s a blending of organ technique with harmonica expressiveness which is where the melodica lives!
I wonder what it would be like if instead of (or in addition to) the wah-pedal you tried one of those Leslie simulator pedals?

[Lowboy]

Hi Kevin,

Yes, the thought has crossed my mind of course. I have a 122 Leslie sitting right there in my music room. One of these days I will give it a try. I do have a Leslie simulator on my multi-effects processor, but the simulator is not a good one and some initial tries with the default settings did not do anything for me.

I don’t want to get too complicated as I want to focus on the music and playing technique and not so much on the technology. But some experimentation is in order.

Lowboy

[albalex]

Hello Lowboy
you could send me the link of audio recordings because I’m curious about the sound you’re faceendo with the HM-36 ……
thanks

[Lowboy]

Hi Albalex,

Paste this link into your browser and you should get there.

[audio src="http://webpages.charter.net/lowboy/MELRIFF1.mp3" /]

I hope to post a more comprehensive recording showing several EQ settings soon. Maybe tonight.

Regards,

Lowboy

[Lowboy]

Hi all,

So I took another cut at shaping a “harp” sound from my melodica. I ran out of webspace to post tracks so I gave it the same name as the link above. The new recording is done with a free blues backing track from YouTube.

The link again is:

ftp://webpages.charter.net/MELRIFF1.mp3

Just cut out the text from “ftp://…. to . . .mp3” and paste it in your browser. EQ could be a bit severe, but I will have to continue to play around to get a full bottom and the exact overtones and harmonics of a harp. But I am zeroing in.

Lowboy

[Lowboy]

Hi, I see the Melodica World Website is no longer adding extra text to the links. The link should work as is by clicking on it.

Lowboy

[Lowboy]

Whoops, I messed up again with the link: Here is the real link:

[audio src="http://webpages.charter.net/lowboy/MELRIFF1.mp3" /]

Lowboy

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