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
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