[Harp-L] Stevie chromatic keys (was: Harmonica within a larger Musical Framework)

[Slim Heilpern <slim@xxxxxxxxxx>]

I had a bit more time to prowl around today and readily found some more 
examples that show Stevie playing in all major keys on a C chromatic. 
Some of these date back a long ways -- I don't think the various keys 
have ever posed much of a challenge to Stevie's genius ;-). I did run 
out of time before finding all the minor keys.

Here's the compiled list:

More Than A Dream: Ab
Kiss Lonely Goodbye: A
Alfie: Bb
Do I Do: B
Fingertips: C
I'd Cry: Db
Grazing in the Grass: D
At Last: Eb
Isn't She Lovely: E
Never My Love: F (and Ab)
For Once In My Life: F#
Same Old Story: G
 
Shadow of Your Smile: Am
How Can You Believe: Bbm
Joy (Takes Over Me): Bm
Peral: Dm
Sunny: Fm

- Slim.

www.SlideManSlim.com


Slim Heilpern wrote:
> 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
>
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