Re: [Harp-L] How to tell the key of any song or music

[Richard Hunter <turtlehill@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Dave Land wrote:
<As you note with your deft humor, in a live performance situation,
<this business of figuring out the key is something we harpists need to
<do right quick, before we make a hash of our fellow players' fine work.

The easiest and fastest way to figure out the key is to ask the guitarist or bass player what the key is.

that's what I do.

If they get it wrong, THEN I go to Plan B, which is to listen hard and compare to whatever harmonica I have in my hand.

But usually the guitarist or bass player knows the key.  Just don't let them tell you what the key would be if you were playing in 2nd position on a standard tuned harp--usually in that case they'll say something like "use an A harp."  It's up to me, not some half-aware guitarist, what harp I use to play in a given key.  You can stop a guy like that in his tracks by asking "is that first, 2nd, or 3rd position?"

Thanks, Richard Hunter

regards, RH

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