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

[michael rubin <michaelrubinharmonica@xxxxxxxxx>]

Joel,
When was the last time you were presented sheet music during a jam
session or a performance?  Improvisational music almost never has
clues like written music.

Of course, knowing how to read the key on sheet music is very valuable.
Michael Rubin
Michaelrubinharmonica.com

On Fri, May 6, 2011 at 10:03 AM, Joel B. Chappell
<joel.b.chappell@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> Hey folks, did you ever think of looking at the key signature in the sheet
> music?
>
> Joel B. Chappell
> 21 Billings Street
> Milford, NH 03055
>
> The easiest way to tell the key of a  song, other than asking, is to
> learn some basic guitar chords and look at the guitarists fingers... If
> I don't know the key, I usually give a quizzical look at a guitar player
> and if we've had any communication, he just forms the chord and shows it
> to me.
> Steve webb in Minn.
>
>
>
> On Thu, May 5, 2011 at 12:31 PM, Richard Hunter wrote:
>
>> 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
>>
>> author, "Jazz Harp" latest mp3s and harmonica blog at
>> http://hunterharp.com
>> Myspace http://myspace.com/richardhunterharp
>> Vids at http://www.youtube.com/user/lightninrick
>> more mp3s at http://taxi.com/rhunter
>> Twitter: lightninrick
>
>