Re: [Harp-L] Chaka Khan I Feel for You

[Joe and Cass Leone <leone@xxxxxxxx>]

On May 9, 2008, at 2:01 PM, Winslow Yerxa wrote:

> It's definitely a chromatic harmonica (Stevie Wonder), with a  
> little sound processing.

Yes, it is definitely 'Millionized' (for lack of a better term)

> By the way, there's an extended version of this record that came  
> out on a 12" single with a longer harp solo.
>
> While the tune comes out in F#, Stevie didn't play it in F#.

This is correct. While everyone seems to feel that Stevie is this  
super human player who can play in any odd key and STILL sound  
marvelous, the truth is that he picks normal keys just like everyone  
else and the recordings or HIS tracks are either sped up or slowed  
down to give the impression that he is in F#, Gb, B,  E, and other  
not so easy keys. I always suspected that is was to disssuade other  
players from trying to copy him. AND I don't think it's coming from  
HIM. I have to admit though that it is less common these days. I have  
had recordings which were BETWEEN  the keys. I thought it was my  
player, but after checking several other players, I wound up with the  
same deal.

> The tape was either sped up or slowed down and he played it in  
> either F or G (I'm not where I can check which it was).

Because of the 'Chipmunks' timbre to the edges of the notes (which he  
is VERY good at to begin with), I believe the track is a sped up F.  
Something about the combinations of notes and the way they are  
'chipped', leads me to believe he is in a DRAW key. G isn't as fluid  
as F.

p.s. just my opinion       smokey-joe
>