Re: More Key Help?

[Bruce Steinberg <bruces@xxxxxxx>]

re:

>From: HarpPro@xxxxxxx
>Subject: Re: More Key Help?

>I thought I'd ask one.
>CD - Paul Butterfields Betterdays
>song - Highway 28
>anybody have an idea on the key.

>thanks,
>P.A.D.

////////////////

If this tune is a little tricky to figure out at first, don't 
feel bad -- it goes through three successive keys in its 
repeating eight-bar figure.

The first two bars are in C, the second two are in D, and the 
final four are in G.  Using a C harp throughout, Butterfield is 
therefore nominally playing the first two bars in first position, 
the second two in third, and the back half in second/cross.

However, for some reason, he chooses to work a third-position 
kind of modality into all three sections, which IMHO doesn't 
always work real well, especially going into the rideout.  Butter 
was usually great at finding inventive opportunities for third 
position (check out "One More Heartache" or parts of "East 
West"), but I think this track takes a good thing a little over 
the top.

I noticed that the song was written by latter-day Butterfield 
Band bass player Rod Hicks (Billy Rich is playing bass in the 
Better Days band), and I suspect the C/D/G/G figure might have 
been custom-crafted to specifically provide a vehicle for some 
first, second, and third-position harp-playing in the same tune.

Anyway, one harp is all it takes -- grab a C and give the tune 
your own treatment. :)  B*