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

["Hellerman, Steven" <shellerman@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Long running thread, so just a little two cents:
 
I agree, that If they can tell you what key THEY are playing in, then it's up to you -- the harp player -- to determine what harp(s) to use. For me that usually means deciding between cross or straight; blues usually means cross (in second or, in minors, third). Indeed, when there's an overly helpful guitarist or bass player trying to tell me the cross of the key, it causes confusion and can lead to mistakes. So I always end up saying: "Just tell me what key YOU are playing. Don't worry, I'll figure it out from there." 
 
SLH
 

Message: 2
Date: Thu, 5 May 2011 13:31:53 -0400 (GMT-04:00)
From: Richard Hunter <turtlehill@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: [Harp-L] How to tell the key of any song or music
To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
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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"
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