Re: Reggae Harmonica

[Pat Missin <pat@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I've played with a few reggae and ska bands and whilst I did do some
melodic stuff, playing horn lines and doubling the bassline, etc., I
generally thought of myself as part of the rhythm section, so my
choice of harp would be dictated by the main chord groove of the tune.

Third position lends itself nicely to minor key tunes that use a Im -
bVII progression (for example Dm - C) such as "Ain't No Sunshine".

Other minor key tunes use Im - IVm (for example Gm - Cm), such as
"Swing Easy", or "I Shot the Sheriff". For these I used a natural
minor harp. If I remember correctly, "Sheriff" uses Gm - Cm for the
chorus, with Eb - Dm for the verse. I sort of bluffed the Eb using
doublestops and octaves.

Some tunes hang on a Im - IVM groove (eg Gm - C major), such as the
Shinehead version of "Billie Jean". For these I liked to have a dorian
tuned harp handy (standard tuning with 3 and 7 draw lowered a semitone
- - I made these up from the draw reedplate of a natural minor and the
blow reedplate of a standard major).

Quite a few major key tunes use a I - IV groove (eg G - C), such as
"54-46 Was My Number", "Got To Keep On Moving". These are easily done
in cross harp, standard tuning.

A ton of major key tunes use I - IV - V (eg G - C - D) in various
combinations, such as "Stir It Up", Tighten Up", "Hello Carol", etc.,
etc. Generally I played these using a pair of harps, but you could
also do it with a single harp in second position, if you use the 1-4
octave as your V chord. You could also use a country tuned harp or a
Melody Maker.

Some major key tunes use a I - iim progression (eg C - Dm) such as
"Night Nurse", or "Police and Thieves" and are easily played in first
position on a standard major harp. Having said that, "Police and
Thieves" uses the chords G, Am, Bm, C and D, which would lend itself
really nicely to a Melody Maker harp.

Of course getting the right harp in your mouth is only the start...

 -- Pat.