Re: [Harp-L] Which key?

[Abner <cdgaldos@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I'm luck. 
Even if I don't ask I will be told. And if the key of the harp does not sound right. I have my mentor  ( Richard Perkins Harp L member ) non chalantly   come up to me and let me know the RIGHT key. Some times the guitarist has no clue. 

Abner GaldÃs



On Oct 20, 2010, at 9:45 AM, Buck Worley <boogalloo@xxxxxxx> wrote:

> 
> Here's what I do, and I am faced with the scenario(s) presented all the time (as most of us pros are).
> 
> If I dont catch it by ear (and I'm about 75% on that, too) I pick up a C harp and go to the major scale in holes 4 - 7 using it as a pitch pipe. If I find the tonal center between two notes then I know to go 1/2 interval up/down for the KEY. Then I decide which position/mode to play in.
> 
>> From: geoffatkins@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>> To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
>> Date: Wed, 20 Oct 2010 07:56:32 +0200
>> Subject: [Harp-L] Which key?
>> 
>> 
>> John said " But if you have a set of harps, you really SHOULD be able to
>> find the key, simply by checking different harmonicas, and seeing if "IT
>> WORKS"...Of course, it is better if you are told the key in the first
>> place!...........
>> 
>> I play quite often with a guitarist who uses MP3s and midi files and has not
>> had much formal training. Asking the key will be met with 26 options, of
>> which I've learned to reject everything after H, and suspect the rest.
>> 
>> The benefit is that gradually my ear has learned to pick the key about 75%
>> of the time, but the downside is having to wait for a bar or so of the intro
>> to determine the harp choice.
>> Worst are the guitarists at jams who don't tell you the key, but "which harp
>> you should use" usually presuming second position.
>> 
>> My worst case "search order" Is CDAG Eb Db, usually by which time I've
>> picked up a clue for the correct harp.
>> What throws me is a key change within the song structure, and if I know the
>> piece, have tw harps ready. Otherwise the "search" takes too long.
>> 
>> Has anyone a good search plan?
>> 
>> Geoff Atkins
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>