[Harp-L] What key is it?

[<venkyr@xxxxxxx>]

  Geoff Atkins wrote-
  Back to the point, guessing the key works for me if
  I can think "Sounds like
  that other piece I play that's in 'E, etc.' ". But I
  am not really able to
  hear a note or phrase in isolation and say what key
  it is.
   
  Ear training works well most of time. We are lucky
  to have horn players who tell you that the song is
  in a certain key and you are only one or half step
  away....well, that depends. Last night the guitarist
  called for a song in Am and I was looking for two
  different harps in my case. 
  One guy, let's call him "Gus" jumps from the crowd
  and says "you should get a "D" harp because the song
  is in "A". I said "thank you", and continued looking
  for my harps.
   
  I used a "C" harp to play in 4th position and "G"
  harp to play in the 3rd position. These harps sound
  much better for a song in Am.
   
  I get thrown off on occasion when someone plays like
  Duke Robillard- seven different key changes in one
  song and the only hint- here's a tribute to Freddie
  King, BB King or Buddy Guy.
   
  Cheers!

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