Blocking Technique

Scott Swartz · Post by **Scott Swartz** » 19 Sep 2002 6:10 am

I was thinking about palm vs pick blocking yesterday and had the thought that it would be interesting to look at how it is done on other multistring instuments.

Like say for instance the harp. Lots of strings there, and it has a long history, taught in music schools,etc.

There are others like maybe the Japanese or Indian stringed instruments.

mike nolan · Post by **mike nolan** » 19 Sep 2002 9:08 pm

My wife is a classically trained professional harpist...she palm blocks strings only when more than one note is ringing, otherwise she finger blocks.[This message was edited by mike nolan on 19 September 2002 at 10:08 PM.]

Roger Rettig · Post by **Roger Rettig** » 20 Sep 2002 6:28 am

That's interesting, Mike!

Can you tell me anything about the pedal functions on a harp? I've always felt that they're PSGs' nearest 'relatives'!

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Roger Rettig (NTSGA #147): Emmons LGIII(8+8), Fender Stringmaster (0+0) and a Zumsteel D10 on order!!!

Pete Burak · Post by **Pete Burak** » 20 Sep 2002 8:03 am

There's a harp shop here in Portland.
One thing I found interesting is that each string has a half tone raise or lower lever, so you can tune to different scales.
The one I tried was one of the wooden box body types. I don't recall it having any foot levers, although I have seen them on orchestral models (from afar).

Post by **Joey Ace** » 20 Sep 2002 10:46 am

I don't want to harp about this, but all you want to know about Harps is here: http://www.harphaven.com/harplinks.html [This message was edited by Joey Ace on 20 September 2002 at 11:47 AM.]

Scott Swartz · Post by **Scott Swartz** » 20 Sep 2002 11:43 am

Pedals, eh? I hadn't even noticed that.

Can I assume the whole JI/ET thing is applicable to harps also?

On my original blocking question, that is more or less my method on steel, palm for chords, pick block for single notes.

mike nolan · Post by **mike nolan** » 23 Sep 2002 9:04 pm

There are several types of harps...some have pedals, some have levers, and some neither. Most lever harps have a lever for each string that can sharp that string. The pedal(concert) harps have 7 pedals that are normally in a middle position, where the strings are natural, but can either sharp or flat a half step. On the big concert harp you usually have a C as the lowest string then D E F G A B then start over for as many octaves as you have. The pedals work on all strings of the same pitch.....so you just read the music and change your pedals (both feet) as necessary.

Martin Weenick · Post by **Martin Weenick** » 23 Sep 2002 10:21 pm

To Mike Nolan. Mike I would like to know if your wife has tried the pedal steel. It would seem to me that it would be very easy for her to learn with her being a professional harp player. She shouldn't have any problem with string grips or pedals. Just curious. Martin.

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Martin W. Emmons LG III 3/5 Peavy 1000

mike nolan · Post by **mike nolan** » 25 Sep 2002 11:59 am

She played non pedal in a show "Return to the Forbidden Planet". She plays a lot of instruments....I think about 14 different ones now....so most stuff is really easy for her to pick up. The harp and the steel require very different techniques...but the thinking is sort of the same.