Perfecting that 2 draw bend – Low Rider (War) [..with tab]

Few students ever arrive at the Harp Surgery knowing exactly how many bends there are or where they’re all located. Some think they do, but on closer inspection find there are gaps in their knowledge or ability. Some can draw bend but not blow bend. Some are unable to bend at all. This is a skill area that almost always needs attention. I firmly believe players of any ability should spend time working on the accuracy of their direct bends. No matter how good you are, those 3 hole draw bends can never be taken for granted.

When you start bending, it always pays to remember the Harp Surgery’s golden rule – it’s ok to make mistakes. That’s why they put erasers on the end of pencils. Perfecting your bends will involve an amount of trial and error. You will learn from your mistakes. And remember this is one of the most significant points of any harp player’s development. Be patient and persevere. You’re breaking into the big time!

In another article, we spoke about monitoring the accuracy of bends – How do I know I’m bending in tune? My conclusion was that all the electronic paraphernalia in the world is no substitute for using your own ears. Furthermore, instead of learning each individual bend in isolation with an electronic tuning device to determine your accuracy, far better to pick a fun tune and learn to play the bends in context. You’re a musician after all. If the bends ain’t right, the tune don’t work!

So without further ado, here’s a fun latin gig to work on for that full 2 draw bend. Grab a C harp, take a look at the tab and then listen to Lee Oskar playing Low Rider with War. It grooves like high waisters and a bottle of Cresta. If you live in the UK, you may remember hearing the horn riff at the end of a Marmite advert. The opening pattern needs no bending at all, just a few glottal stops to articulate the repeated notes. The second pattern needs a direct full draw bend on hole 2D”. Miss it and mess up! Let your ears guide you in. Make mistakes and steadily perfect that bend. Once you get it, you’re gonna love it. Dig in, get down and enjoy! Oh, and tell all your friends.

Low Rider Tab

3D..3D   3D..3D   3D   4B   4D

2D..3D   4B   3D   2D

3D..3D   3D..3D   3D   4B   4D

2D..3D   4B   3D   2D

2D”..2D”   2D”..2D”..2D”

2D”..2D”   2D”..2D”..2D”

2D”..2D……