Re: [Harp-L] Fast Instrumental in Bb

[David Naiditch <davidnaiditch@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

I generally prefer playing bluegrass and Gypsy jazz tunes in the sharp keys.  I find that even "dreaded" keys such as A work really well for many bluegrass tunes, even fast ones such as Old Dangerfield (another tune on my new CD).  Perhaps I've learned to adjust my riffs to fit these keys.  On my "Bluegrass in the Backwoods" CD, I play in about 8 different keys on a C chromatic, and as I recall, this "New Camptown Races," is the only tune in a flat key.  

On Aug 21, 2014, at 12:00 PM, Winslow Yerxa wrote:

> Nice, David.
> 
> The major scales (and their modes)s of F, Bb, Eb and even Ab all play very smoothly on a C chromatic. Which is why, for a style that has a lot of tunes in E, A, D, and G (all pitched one semitone below those smooth-playing flat keys) it's worth considering using a chromatic that's in the key of B or E. (Irish accordionists do the same thing by playing a button accordion in B/C, i.e. with one row of buttons in each key).
> 
>  
> Winslow Yerxa
> President, SPAH, the Society for the Preservation and Advancement of the Harmonica
> Producer, the Harmonica Collective
> Author, Harmonica For Dummies, ISBN 978-0-470-33729-5
>             Harmonica Basics For Dummies, ASIN B005KIYPFS
>             Blues Harmonica For Dummies, ISBN 978-1-1182-5269-7
> Resident Expert, bluesharmonica.com
> Instructor, Jazzschool Community Music School
> 
> 
> ________________________________
> From: David Naiditch <davidnaiditch@xxxxxxxxxxx>
> To: Harp L Harp L <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx> 
> Sent: Thursday, August 21, 2014 8:32 AM
> Subject: [Harp-L] Fast Instrumental in Bb
> 
> 
> This is the only bluegrass tune I can think of that was written in Bb.  Works well on a C chromatic.  From my new “Bluegrass in the Backwoods” CD.
> 
> https://soundcloud.com/david-naiditch/new-camptown-races?in=david-naiditch/sets/bluegrass-in-the-backwoods