Re: [Harp-L] Key of E

[Larry Marks <larry.marks@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Tony,

In blues, use of the key of E is common, at least if you let the guitar 
player pick the key. Differences may apply depending on the needs of the 
singer. I keep multiple spares on hand when I am gigging in the keys of 
A, C and D. F is another common key to use because it crosses to C. I 
don't carry spares of F, but I do carry both F and low F, so I could 
manage. (I really love low F because you can do some neat rhythm work 
with it...)

BTW, you would generally use the A harmonica to play an E blues.

FWIW: Most 10-hole pocket harmonicas are designed to play a diatonic 
major scale. You've heard that a million times as 
do-re-mi-fa-sol-la-ti(-do). Now, in music, there are one or more scales 
that go well with any given chord. The scale that goes best with the 
basic blues chord is diatonic major started on the fifth note of the 
scale. (This is called the mixolydian mode of the diatonic major scale.)

Now, forgetting all that useless info, what you really need to know is 
this: When they tell you the key they are going to play in, you count up 
to the fourth note of the diatonic major scale for key and then use that 
harmonica.

Example: If someone says, let's play in E, count E = 1, F(#) = 2, G(#) = 
3, A = 4. Use the A harp.

Have fun.

-LM
BTW, you can play the diatonic major scale without knowing how to bend 
the tone. To hear the scale, start on hole 4, and blow then draw on 
holes 4, 5 and 6. On hole 7, you draw then blow.