Re: [Harp-L] newbie question (which keys of harps)

["Abner Galdos" <cdgaldos@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Thank you Steve
you lost me on 5th position.
you also lost me on "Get the owld file and tuner out and raise the 3-blow a tone" way out of my league.
thanks for the advice any way.
I heard of Dorian and Aeolian before but still way out of my league.

but I still appreciate the time you took for the advice.


abner
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Steve Shaw 
  To: harp-l harp-l 
  Sent: Saturday, February 07, 2009 8:12 PM
  Subject: RE: [Harp-L] newbie question (which keys of harps)



  > If you have harmonicas in the keys of A, Bb, C, D, Eb, F and G you
  > will be covered for 90-95% of the tunes that ordinarily get called.
  > Add the keys of E and Ab you will be covered for 98-99% of the tunes
  > called unless you are playing with jazz bands or horn bands.
  >
  > Personally, I only play Richter tuned harmonicas. I use 5th position
  > to play minor keys.
  >
  > JP

  I suppose it all depends on the genre.  In traditional Irish music you will cover, oh, I dunno, 95+% of all the tunes with harps in G, D (preferably low) and A.  I'd keep a C handy but you could get by without one.  Get the owld file and tuner out and raise that 3-blow a tone and you will be in Paddy Richter Nirvana.  Mine's a shorter list of required harps, so maybe I have a cheaper hobby! ;-) 
   
  Minor-sounding "keys" (modes really, Dorian and Aeolian) come out in third or fourth position in Irish.
   
  Steve Shaw 
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