Re: [Harp-L] Harmonica within a larger Musical Framework was RE: Summertime

[Slim Heilpern <slim@xxxxxxxxxx>]

icemanle@xxxxxxx wrote:
> If I'm not mistaken, Stevie doesn't play chromatic in all keys but gravitates towards keys that allow him to use his sense of sliding in and out of notes w/the button, or using chrom's tuned in other keys than "C".
>   
My 2 cents on this...

I've heard several harmonica players say something to this affect, but I 
think it's a mistaken assumption. I just spent 5 minutes rummaging 
through my iTunes copy of "The Complete Stevie Wonder" and came up with 
the following sampling:

Alfie: Bb
For Once In My Life: F#
Isn't She Lovely: E
Fingertips: C
Kiss Lonely Goodbye: A
Same Old Story: G
At Last: Eb
Shadow of Your Smile: Am

All of the above were played on a C chrom. If I had more time I bet I 
could find the rest of the keys as well...

After many years of studying his work on chromatic, I'm quite sure he 
plays comfortably in all keys and he most likely chooses his keys, at 
least on the vocal numbers, for where he likes to sing them.

Also, he's demonstrated over the years that there are effective 
Stevie-esque button slides in every key ;-).

- Slim.

www.SlideManSlim.com