Re: [Harp-L] Re: F#minor

[Steve Baker <steve@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Michael, as you say, there aren't any wrong natural notes on an A harp, but it's the dearth of suitable bends which would make this choice unappealing to me unless the tune dictated a folky, straight harp kind of style. 

On 17.07.2013, at 15:10, Michael Rubin wrote:

> Steve,
> My first big suggestion was an standard A harp.  Without bends and overblows, what pitfall do you see that won't harmonize?  
> 
> I am in agreement with you that the other harps suggested have notes built in that are not in the A major/F# natural minor scale.  However, I think they are worth exploring.  If you hit a note that you don't like, go away from it.
> Michael Rubin
> Michaelrubinharmonica.com
> 
> 
> On Wed, Jul 17, 2013 at 4:48 AM, Steve Baker <steve@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> Gary wrote:
> I was ask to play with a band that I had never played for. It was a last minute gig. Second set they called out F#minor or A major. I couldn't find a harp that worked well. I could get a few notes on the D harp. Which harp would work the best for this key?
> 
> Steve comments:
> I would use either a D harp in Country Tuning (the G in 5-draw tuned up to G#) or a Natural Minor harp in F#minor (referring to the 2nd position key, i.e. a B harp tuned minor). Both of these offer you not only the bluesy bends in F#minor, but also a complete A major scale. Even if the song switches between the 2 keys, you'll have everything covered. All the options suggested here using regular tuning contain pitfalls as there are a number of notes which won't harmonize.
> 
> Steve Baker
> www.stevebaker.de
> www.european-music-workshops.com
> www.harmonica-masters.de
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 

Steve Baker
www.stevebaker.de
www.european-music-workshops.com
www.harmonica-masters.de