Re: [Harp-L] What's a "key"?

[The Iceman <icemanle@xxxxxxx>]

To me, "key" would be the reference point that opens the door into understanding where the song lays in a harmonic sense. Knowing the key allows me to choose which harmonica to use and what position to play in. Knowing the key allows me to play songs in which I know the harmonic progression so that what I choose will be in sync with the rest of the musicians, and hopefully the rest of the musicians would feel the same.


When one moves beyond playing solo, common ground needs to be established amongst the participants. Key is one "key" (ha) component. Tempo is another.





-----Original Message-----
From: sheltraw <sheltraw@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: Harp L <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Thu, May 5, 2011 6:04 pm
Subject: [Harp-L] What's a "key"?


On another thread the question of how to determine the key of a tune was
raised. So I would like to ask two questions of importance to that thread.

(1) What do you think the term "key" means?

and

(2) Given that you have identified the "key" then what are you going to do
with that information?

Cheers!