Swallowtail Jig: Harmonica, Loop Pedal & Suitcase

Swallow Tail Jig on harmonica using a loop pedal and home made suitcase bass drum. This is a perfect song to play the backing on as the chords are entirely suck 4/5/6 and blow 4/5/6 so if we were using a C harmonica that would be D minor and C major. I think I do the melody in 3rd position? Don't ask me what keys I'm using as I did this 6 years ago now and have no idea !!!

Version of me playing this with a full band at Whitenoise Festival 2023, found on the Hot Stove 3 page here: www.chrispowellharmonica.com

I only use normal Hohner harmonicas, and use position playing to achieve the notes that aren't available in normal cross-harp (2nd position) playing. I only use entry level equipment too, as I want to explore what's possible for the most number of people. The other way would be to have specially tuned harmonicas but I don't want to re-learn the note positions for that, so I just work out what the melody is then spend a long time working out which harmonica will play that melody with the most fluidity. As I spent many years playing in 2 or 3 person bands, what became important was just choosing the harmonica that would deliver the melody the best, rather than be restricted by the "right" or "conventional" way to play.

música irlandesa armónica



Enjoy