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Dirty-South Blues Harp forum: wail on! >
how to find the key to any song.. by ear
how to find the key to any song.. by ear
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1847
2070 posts
Aug 19, 2014
1:52 PM
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you can skip the first few minutes
enjoy!
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i get a lot of request when i play my harmonica
"but i play it anyway"
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nacoran
7952 posts
Aug 19, 2014
6:51 PM
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Nearly all songs are written in a minor key? I know it's more common than it used to be but most? (At least he has a little flag on the video.
My ear has gotten better the more I play. This is a good technique, but if you can't play overblows it may still require grabbing a couple harps to find the right note since the one you are looking for may not be on the first harp you grab. I suppose, if I grabbed a C and a C# it would work, but in practice I usually grab a harp- if it sounds good, but not quite good enough I try one in either direction around the circle of fifths. If it sounds way off I grab something from the far side of the circle. (That's one of the reasons I harp on the circle sometimes.) The humming thing is a really good way to train your ear.
I like his closing, "give the knowledge away to anyone who wants it people". :)
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Nate
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Greg Heumann
2809 posts
Aug 19, 2014
8:39 PM
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You need ONLY a C harp. Memorize ONLY the names of the notes available on the 1st 4 holes ONLY on a C harp. You can find every note of the chromatic scale there (with bends) except Eb - and because you can play an E or a D, you can tell when the note is Eb!
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/Greg
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STME58
1043 posts
Aug 19, 2014
11:17 PM
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I use this method either with a C harp ad Greg suggests or by humming the root into a tuner.
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Bilzharp
8 posts
Aug 20, 2014
3:42 AM
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I use the method Greg suggests as well but sometimes I get confused about which bend I'm on with the 3rd hole draw. With rock or blues bands its usually gonna be A rather than Ab or Bb, but not always. The tuner method is good, but not practical when you're scrambling to figure out the key when the rest of the band is playing the intro. :^O
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mr_so&so
856 posts
Aug 21, 2014
10:24 AM
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For some reason I am averse to learning the letter names of the notes on a harmonica, but I am interested in learning different playing positions. Last night it occurred to me that you could look at Greg's method in a more general way (i.e. using any harp key) and get the same results. For this method, you do need to know the circle of fifths (or have a drawing of it handy). Also, you need to know the root note (in holes 1 through 4) for all twelve playing positions. I know this already for positions 1,2,3,4,5 and 12, which means I only have to learn 6 more.
The method is:
1) Grab any harp you have handy (but a good initial harp choice will make this easier too, e.g. if your harp key is closer on the circle of fifths to the song key).
2) Find the note that best blends with the music using only holes 1 through 4, or 1 through 3 if you don't overblow or want to minimize the number of notes you need to play around with. Usually you will find the root, but if you are wrong it will most likely be the fifth you find. Listen for the note of resolution, also be aware of what chord is playing and doing this procedure on the I chord is easiest.
3) From your best-blending note (say it's 2 draw full-step bend on a G harp that works best), determine your playing position if that note is your root note. For our example, we are playing in 12th position.
4) Use the circle of fifths to tell you the song key. For our example, it is C, if you are playing a G harp in 12th position.
Root notes for the various positions that you have to learn are these:
1st: 1+, 4+
2nd: 2, 3+
3rd: 1, 4
4th: 3''
5th: 2+
6th: 3
7th: 2'
8th: 1', 4'
9th: 3'''
10th: 1+*, 4+*
11th: 3'
12th: 2''
where +=blow, '=half step bend, ''= full step bend, '''=1.5 step bend, *=overbend
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Last Edited by mr_so&so on Aug 21, 2014 10:25 AM
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1847
2073 posts
Aug 21, 2014
10:57 AM
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this technique is a bit more difficult on a wind instrument as opposed to a guitar or piano
a c harp has 7 notes of the scale
with out a single bend
a B harp has the other 5 notes with out a single bend
it may be the only chance you get to use your B harp lol
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i get a lot of request when i play my harmonica
"but i play it anyway"
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