RE: [Harp-L] Which key?

[Buck Worley <boogalloo@xxxxxxx>]

Here's what I do, and I am faced with the scenario(s) presented all the time (as most of us pros are).
 
If I dont catch it by ear (and I'm about 75% on that, too) I pick up a C harp and go to the major scale in holes 4 - 7 using it as a pitch pipe. If I find the tonal center between two notes then I know to go 1/2 interval up/down for the KEY. Then I decide which position/mode to play in.
 
> From: geoffatkins@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
> Date: Wed, 20 Oct 2010 07:56:32 +0200
> Subject: [Harp-L] Which key?
> 
> 
> John said " But if you have a set of harps, you really SHOULD be able to
> find the key, simply by checking different harmonicas, and seeing if "IT
> WORKS"...Of course, it is better if you are told the key in the first
> place!...........
> 
> I play quite often with a guitarist who uses MP3s and midi files and has not
> had much formal training. Asking the key will be met with 26 options, of
> which I've learned to reject everything after H, and suspect the rest.
> 
> The benefit is that gradually my ear has learned to pick the key about 75%
> of the time, but the downside is having to wait for a bar or so of the intro
> to determine the harp choice.
> Worst are the guitarists at jams who don't tell you the key, but "which harp
> you should use" usually presuming second position.
> 
> My worst case "search order" Is CDAG Eb Db, usually by which time I've
> picked up a clue for the correct harp.
> What throws me is a key change within the song structure, and if I know the
> piece, have tw harps ready. Otherwise the "search" takes too long.
> 
> Has anyone a good search plan?
> 
> Geoff Atkins
> 
> 
> 
>