Over in the "Clarke Harmonicas?" thread, Martin made a comment that included the phrase:
"In D, a problematic harmonica key..."
That passing comment stuck out to me, because I have never been satisfied with the way that the two harps I have in the key of D play. I have always just assumed that it is my lack of skill and knowledge that has been keeping me from getting them set up quite how I like. Now, of course, I am wondering if there really IS something unique about that key that makes them a little different. What gives?
Tom ---------- Be humble for you are made of earth. Be noble for you are made of stars.
Last Edited by TBird on Apr 30, 2017 10:09 AM
I've never had a problem with a D harmonica. D might be my favorite key harmonica. When the band calls out key of A, a lot of people try to avoid D harps by playing in different positions, but I think 2nd position D harp is killer. Junior Wells and Rice Miller loved those high harps.
Maybe Martin can clear up his comment. He may have meant something different. ---------- Marc Graci YouTube Channel
What 1847 said... short slots, but that said, I have never had a problem with a D harp. I'm like Micro, they are, depending on the day, one of my favs.
You know what? The two Ds I have are a Hohner Blues Harp and a Suzuki Manji. I primarily play Special 20s and Maine Bands and don't have any other Blues Harps or Manjis, so I have a feeling my trouble stems from a simple lack of familiarity with those particular models.
Tom ---------- Be humble for you are made of earth. Be noble for you are made of stars.
Last Edited by TBird on Apr 30, 2017 11:11 AM
These is a very timely thread for me. Although D Harps really sound great, they are tough for me to get a sound I like on the -2' and the -3" bends. These two bends can come across real "warbly" to my ears. I do feel though that after I spend a lot of time working on my D harp bends that my bends on other keys will sound better.
Last Edited by Sundancer on Apr 30, 2017 11:42 AM
D harp is a classic sound. Born in Chicago for example..
I agree about the tricky 3 draw bends. I haven't had the best luck with D harps, I have an Eb that plays a little easier so it's not always that higher = harder. Just luck of the draw in my case (haha pun intended)
Last Edited by slaphappy on Apr 30, 2017 5:16 PM
D is the highest pitched harmonica I play. Anything higher pitched and I feel like I'm going to pop a blood vessel. But it is very responsive at that pitch - not as flabby as Bb.
The only 2 harps that rarely see the light of day for me are my F# and high G. Never had a problem with a D, E or F come to that, I do this number from Paul Jone's 1980's Blues Band on an F harp, the solo starts at 2:14
@spderyak: didja see the thread with the complaints about how hard it is to play a hard rocking tune on a standard G harp? Got me wondering about the professed love affairs with low tuned harps.
.I used to blow out the 4 or 5 draw because I played too hard. I can't imagine avoiding that key. There are a ton of blues songs in A. Sure,you could play some in 3rd,but some of them really call for a D harp.
My trouble doesn't seem to be higher=harder to play. As a matter of fact, I have an F harp that I love. I've just noticed that my Ds seem to be my least satisfying harps to play in my collection. It seemed to me like Martin's comment might be suggesting that there could be more to it then me just not quite getting them set up quite how I like. It sounds like I'm out of luck! :)
Tom ---------- Be humble for you are made of earth. Be noble for you are made of stars.
John Sebastian's "Night Owl Blues' is on a D harp, and was among the first songs I learned. I have a fondness for it and love the tone, although in general the note bends, or at least the way I bend them, don't have the middle range grit and texture that I like in the C Bb and G harps. Still, Ds are superb for long , sustained notes and can be made to scream like no other key. "Born in Chicago" by Butter is the case in point. ---------- Ted Burke tburke4@san.rr.com
If you ever think there is something wrong using a D harp, have a listen to one of THE greats Big Walter Horton doing Last Night with Fleetwood Mac and tell me it doesn't sound right! This is one of my all time favourite pieces. Maybe it's the particular D harp you are using but there is no way I'd subscribe to the idea that one key is better than another, I would agree that some harps are clearly better than others. Have a listen to this and tell me you still think playing in D doesn't sound so good!
Hi, video shows as unavailable for some reason, but I look forward to checking it out.
hvyi..I did see the thread about difficulty rocking out with a standard G harp...I love my G harp so I'll be checking that out. The extra low harps and extra high harps don't attract me that much. Perhaps I'm more generic, but perfectly happy with standard range of harps (or at least standard from the old days)
but for sure I think we are as much the victims of marketing as much any other "must have' product
