RE: [Harp-L] How to tell the key of any song or music

[Buck Worley <boogalloo@xxxxxxx>]

Michael-
 
Regarding your response to Joel:
 
I have never been given sheet music at a jam but we get sheet music at church. The orchestra gets lead sheets, the pianist get the piano music, the drummer gets sheets with drum notations (little or no music notes), the guitarists get music with each chord change shown above the music staff but never has anyone given me a lead sheet just for harmonica. At church or anywhere else for that matter.
 
I usually get what the guitar players get and quickly read ***the key signature*** and transpose it to a number system chart noting any refrains, time and key signature changes, alternate endings and dynamic notations ***then toss the "sheet" music***. Once ya get used to it, it's a snap and what starts as 4 pages of sheet music can easily be turned into a handy 1 page number chart.
 
If the music is in a minor mode, I write out my chart using the numbers for the relative major.
 
After taking a look at the chords being used I'll choose may harp(s) accordingly i.e., ionian, mixolydian, aeolian, dorian or sub-dorian or whatever mode determines the harp "position" then I wing it trying not to "step on" anyone too badly. If I have a solo, I just try to stay close to the melody but most of the time I try to "spice it up a bit" with my own harp style because that seems to be what folks like to hear from a harp player; something harpish.
 
In jams where improv is the game, a good working knowledge of music theory comes in very handy but when in a position where I am playing with an orchestra or in a studio, just give me a number chart and I'm good to go and rely on the director or producer to tell me if I am off the deep end (hopefully during the rehearsal).
 
So, all that just to validate Joel's point and to better illustrate your point. That's how I handle "sheet" music.
 
Buck
 
  
> Date: Fri, 6 May 2011 13:49:44 -0500
> Subject: Re: [Harp-L] How to tell the key of any song or music
> From: michaelrubinharmonica@xxxxxxxxx
> To: joel.b.chappell@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> CC: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
> 
> Joel,
> When was the last time you were presented sheet music during a jam
> session or a performance? Improvisational music almost never has
> clues like written music.
> 
> Of course, knowing how to read the key on sheet music is very valuable.
> Michael Rubin
> Michaelrubinharmonica.com
> 
> On Fri, May 6, 2011 at 10:03 AM, Joel B. Chappell
> <joel.b.chappell@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> > Hey folks, did you ever think of looking at the key signature in the sheet
> > music?
> >
> > Joel B. Chappell
> > 21 Billings Street
> > Milford, NH 03055
> >
> > The easiest way to tell the key of a  song, other than asking, is to
> > learn some basic guitar chords and look at the guitarists fingers... If
> > I don't know the key, I usually give a quizzical look at a guitar player
> > and if we've had any communication, he just forms the chord and shows it
> > to me.
> > Steve webb in Minn.
> >
> >
> >
> > On Thu, May 5, 2011 at 12:31 PM, Richard Hunter wrote:
> >
> >> Dave Land wrote:
> >> <As you note with your deft humor, in a live performance situation,
> >> <this business of figuring out the key is something we harpists need
> >> to
> >> <do right quick, before we make a hash of our fellow players' fine
> >> work.
> >>
> >> The easiest and fastest way to figure out the key is to ask the
> >> guitarist or bass player what the key is.
> >>
> >> that's what I do.
> >>
> >> If they get it wrong, THEN I go to Plan B, which is to listen hard and
> >> compare to whatever harmonica I have in my hand.
> >>
> >> But usually the guitarist or bass player knows the key.  Just don't
> >> let them tell you what the key would be if you were playing in 2nd
> >> position on a standard tuned harp--usually in that case they'll say
> >> something like "use an A harp."  It's up to me, not some half-aware
> >> guitarist, what harp I use to play in a given key.  You can stop a guy
> >> like that in his tracks by asking "is that first, 2nd, or 3rd
> >> position?"
> >>
> >> Thanks, Richard Hunter
> >>
> >> regards, RH
> >>
> >> author, "Jazz Harp" latest mp3s and harmonica blog at
> >> http://hunterharp.com
> >> Myspace http://myspace.com/richardhunterharp
> >> Vids at http://www.youtube.com/user/lightninrick
> >> more mp3s at http://taxi.com/rhunter
> >> Twitter: lightninrick
> >
> >
>