Re: [Harp-L] Keys you need

[Cara Cooke <cyberharp@xxxxxxxxx>]

To be quite honest, my E harp does way more straight harp than it does
anything else.  I have used it for jazz and blues in other positions, but
some country and bluegrass tunes just work better in 1st position.  I am
also guilty of choosing between a standard E and a low E to suit the needs
of the situation.  However, if I were to be at the point of having to
purchase harmonicas from scratch, I would tend to buy them in this order:

G, A, C, D  ------------ most common usefulness all around, especially for
country/bluegrass
E (and/or low E), F (and/or low F), Bb, B  ------------------  next most
useful, especially for country/bluegrass
Ab, Eb, Db, low F#   ----------------------------  need to add these for
playing jazz

(The low F# is for playing a few Ebm tunes with a sax player.  The Db/C#
and Ab help with I run into a clarinet player I know who likes Bbm tunes.)

Generally speaking, I can do a lot of damage with the first four, but I
will go after the next four right away so that I will be prepared for
gigs.  The last four I will want as soon as I can get them, because I love
jazz standards, too.

By the way, not only did Bill Monroe sing in higher keys, a banjo tune was
actually written for the key of B and some might want to use an E harmonica
to play a break on it.


On Tue, Apr 3, 2012 at 8:14 AM, Degregorio, Jeffery <
jeffery.degregorio@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> Auuugh!  Unless you're a guitar player, you like to play in "sharps", but
> not over 4 or 5 perhaps (reminds me of band in school-to much to remember
> when playing) :)
> If I were to get an E harp, more than likely, it would be for 1st position
> playing - too many uncommon keys beyond that (except for maybe B).  80%-95%
> of what you play, you play in 2nd position.
> Just trying to think of the uses of an E harp in country music which
> probably the key of B is rarely used.  However, B is probably more common
> (highly limited though) than C# or F# keys.  BTW, I currently have A, Ab,
> Bb, C, D, Eb, F, G as well as a country tuned SP20 C in my arsenal .
> Jeff
>
> From: Rick Dempster [mailto:rick.dempster@xxxxxxxxxxx]
> Sent: Monday, April 02, 2012 8:28 PM
> To: Degregorio, Jeffery; harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx; Timothy Kane; Tony Stephens
> Subject: RE: [Harp-L] Keys you need
>
> I'd second that. Unless you are going to play in 1st position (E harp in
> key of E) the uses are pretty limited. If you play with someone who likes
> playing/singing in B (I do it a bit myself) OK.
> Apart from that, 3rd position is F#, 4th, C# 5th, Ab, 6th, Eb. I'd go for
> an F, to play 2nd in C, and D to play in both D and A. A lot of trad
> country is in C G, D, A, and E. With your A, G and C, the F and D should
> cover most of the common keys. After that, I'd go to a Bb, for 2nd in F.
> RD
>
>
> >>> "Degregorio, Jeffery" <jeffery.degregorio@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:
> jeffery.degregorio@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>> 3/04/2012 4:58 >>>
> I'm not that familiar with what keys country numbers are in, (I would
> guess F, D, C, A, G, Bb) but are you talking about using an E harp to play
> in the key of B (cross harp)? (if so, it's surprising it's that common)
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: harp-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx<mailto:harp-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx> [mailto:
> harp-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Timothy Kane
> Sent: Monday, April 02, 2012 1:53 PM
> To: Tony Stephens; harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx<mailto:harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
> Subject: Re: [Harp-L] Keys you need
>
> I'd go for E, D, or B-flat. I've used an E harp on a lot of different
> country numbers. D and B-flat are good keys for blues songs in A or F.
>
>
>
>
>                          Hawkeye Kane
>
>                       hawkeyekane@xxxxxxxxx<mailto:hawkeyekane@xxxxxxxxx>
>
>                           Cell: (217)-741-7183
>
>                          www.hawkeyekane.com<http://www.hawkeyekane.com>
>
>
> ________________________________
> From: Tony Stephens <tnysteph@xxxxxxxxx<mailto:tnysteph@xxxxxxxxx>>
> To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx<mailto:harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
>  Sent: Monday, April 2, 2012 1:44 PM
> Subject: [Harp-L] Keys you need
>
> If you could buy 3 harps what 3 keys would you want to have. Prices are
> going up at Bushman. I have a C by them. I have a A & G by Lee Oskar and a
> C special 20. So my question is which 2 keys by Bushman for playing country
> and blues?
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
>
> CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE:   Confidential information, such as identifiable
> patient health information or business information, is subject to
> protection under state and federal law.    If you are not the intended
> recipient of this message, you may not disclose, print, copy or disseminate
> this information.  If you have received this in error, please reply and
> notify the sender (only) and delete the message.  Unauthorized interception
> of this e-mail is a violation of federal criminal law.
>
>
> CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE:   Confidential information, such as identifiable
> patient health information or business information, is subject to
> protection under state and federal law.    If you are not the intended
> recipient of this message, you may not disclose, print, copy or disseminate
> this information.  If you have received this in error, please reply and
> notify the sender (only) and delete the message.  Unauthorized interception
> of this e-mail is a violation of federal criminal law.
>