Re: [Harp-L] Crazy with Country Tuned harp (was Motown in 12th position)




I don't understand all the confusion regarding 12th position or Crazy. I 
think people are under the impression that first position is easy, second position 
is harder and third position is harder yet and 12th must be nearly impossible 
because it is such a big double digit number. No true.

For the record, 12th position on a C harmonica is the key of F. As everybody 
knows, the key of F has one flat -- B flat -- readily available on most 
diatonic harmonicas right out of the box as a bent note on 3rd   bend on Draw 3. 

Crazy appears to be in the key of F (according to my copy of "Willie Nelson 
Songbook"). Now, I have no idea if the song was recorded in F or some other 
key. But even if it was so, what? If somebody at Columbia Pictures decided to 
transpose the music to F, it's a simple matter to switch it to a Guitar Friendly 
key. All is required ti the Circle of Fifths and count backward by ones to 
find a sharp (#).

The key of F is relatively easy to play in the first octave on the diatonic 
with the one bent note for the B flat. 

For Crazy, this is where the Bb occurs, as does a F# and C#.

The only problem with playing the melody line of Crazy would come using the 
second octave -- and why anyone would pitch it that high (with only a C# 
available but neither Bb nor F# bends) is beyond me when the first octave is right 
there. 

Crazy lays great in 12th position (on C and all other diatonics) because the 
lowest note is a D# (bend on Draw 1). If you want to pitch it higher on the 
second chorus, play it on a Steve Baker Special (Hohner SBS) which has two 
octaves of the bent note patterns. 

There is no need for a country tuned harp. Overblows are fine -- I once 
managed one myself. But why play overblows when the more readily and universally 
accessible bent notes are there.

Further, they key of F is probably an easier key on the C harmonica than the 
key of G which lacks the F# but works for the blues run but not full diatonic 
scale.

Both keys of F and G work for songs that omit the 4th note like Amazing 
Grace.

Phil Lloyd/late of AHN 


In a message dated 8/10/06 9:14:01 AM, captron100@xxxxxxx writes:


> Rick wrote:
> 
> .......Do you play in 12th Ron? I do a lot of things in rehearsal that I 
> think
> 
> sound great, but I can't necessarily pull them off in a performance. By
> 
> the way, you don't really have to overblow to play 'Crazy' in 12th.
> Rick, sorry for the confusion - what I had meant to say was that when using 
> a Country Tuned harp to
> play "Crazy" in 2nd position, eliminates the OB's on the 5 hole that would 
> otherwise be necessary
> if played with a standard diatonic.
> I'm not familiar with 12, sorry to say. But I'd like to give that melody a 
> try. Save me some time, please,
> and tell me what hole to start off with. tia.
> ron
>    
> 
>   
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