I only have 2 keys of harp missing from my collection, E and Eb. I don't need them often but when I'm at the local blues jam, I never know what someone's gonna call out. Was leaning towards low tuned. I prefer Low to high on my F harp.
I can't afford both. Which would you choose if you had to pick, standard or low tuning for your E and Eb harps? I play in 1st, 2nd and 3rd position, blues, amplified mostly but some acoustic.
I'm not skilled with low tuned harps and Eb is too low for me. I have both but the low one takes more breath than I have. The high one is not too bad, but I wouldn't want to play much 1st pos on it. I don't use it often, used to play Chameleon on it, and it was handy for picking up something from a record one time or more. But low F was too low for me initially too and now I'm ok with it, I just don't use it because it sounds wrong for most of what I'd use it for. E might be better in low, I only have a standard E and probably use it less often than Eb if anything, but when I do use it the only time I wonder about a low one is when the band want to swap a song I play in A 1st position to E.
I use the higher standard tuned harps more often than the lower pitched, except for the Low F# that I use almost always. For F harps I choose standard higher F about 2/3 of the time and low F about 1/3 of the time. I often will stack them and use both in a song.
I bought low E and Eb harps a few years back and just recently got them playing well. I still generally use the higher pitched E and Eb. I view the low harps as specialty instruments for songs that would showcase their low sound. I love the sound of the low pitches, but they are slower to respond on fast songs and the higher pitched E and Eb can cut through a mix, especially when playing acoustically. I find that on Bb horn songs I use Eb in 2nd, and most of the time they are moderately paced or faster. Most of the songs I play in B (E in 2nd) are songs in which the higher E harps do the job for me.
Here is a high E in 2nd position while sitting in with some friends, The Impalas, in Champaign 5 years back:
---------- Doug S.
Last Edited by dougharps on May 10, 2017 2:13 PM
If I had to choose only one harp in each key, I'd pick a low E and a high Eb.
Here's why: I'm most likely to play an E harp in first position and I prefer the lower harps for that. I don't run into that many tunes in B major. I'm more likely to play an Eb in second which I find easier on a high harp.
Still, it's a trade-off, which is why I carry low and high D, Eb, E and F harps.
I haven't try Brendan's Lucky 13 yet, so I can't recommend them, but they may be the answer to your problem.
I use my Eb quite a bit. 2d position for Bb; 5th position for G minor; 3d position for F Dorian; 4th position for C minor (specifically, EQUINOX, the Coltrane tune, which lays out great on an Eb harp in 4th). Anyway, I couldn't get through a gig without my Eb. A workhorse harp for me. I only carry a regular Eb and I love playing it. If you use proper technique, it plays more like a D harp than an F harp. I have a couple of low Eb harps which I only use for practice to help build my chops. Not an easy harp to play and probably very difficult to get "cut" out of in a live situation, especially if you are playing electric. I can handle regular G and low F pretty well, but low Eb is tough--a difficult labor that I would not attempt in a live performance situation.
I don't play my E harp very much and I don't carry a low E. Regular E is pretty high/shrill, though. I have mine tuned to A441 instead of my usuallly preferred A442. So high E or Low E is pretty much your own personal preference.
I will say this, though, by way of guidance: A week or so ago there was a thread with quite a few posts complaining about how difficult it is to rock out and play fast on a standard G harp. Frankly, after practicing for a couple of years on a low Eb I no longer have that much of a problem with it. But a lot of players do. If you are among those who do, then get a regular E instead of a low E.
I carry 2 low harps: a low F# (which I strongly prefer over a regular F# which I do not carry) and a low F in addition to my preferred regular F. I most often use the Low F for A minor in 5th position and on tunes that modulate between C and D where the difference in timbre between a regular G harp and a regular F harp is extreme. Occasionally I'll play it in C (2d position) just for variety, but I could certainly get through any gig without my Low F if I had to.
Edit: After reading some of the other responses, I should probably tell you that I am not much of a first position player and when I do use first it's usually not for blues. If I were playing first position blues, a low E might look more attractive.
Last Edited by hvyj on May 10, 2017 3:27 PM
Sounds like this is really the tipping point for others too. I think I'll start with Low E and Reg. Eb. I play enough first position that Low E probably makes sense. I'm sure I'll end up with both eventually. Thanks for the solid advice everyone!!
I find that I used my regular E/Eb harps more when I am playing with other people and want to be heard.
Last Edited by belfast_harper on May 10, 2017 4:01 PM
Why not get the best of both standard and low? Consider a Lucky 13 harp from Easttop you'll get the standard 10 hole E or Eb plus the low holes for around $60 at Rockin Ron's.
I only have low harps in C, D, and F. Eb is the next one on my list. I definitely prefer the low F in most cases. the low C is definitely a specialty harp but it works well for some things. Eb is just a step down from F so I expect I might find the low Eb nearly as useful as the low F.
This is a good question. In my Session Steel gig bag, I carry Low F and Low F#. My highest harp is an Eb - I like it a lot, but I think it will remain my highest key. I recently added a Low E (my 12th Session Steel). I'm still getting used to it, and its a challenge to bend accurately, but I'm making progress.
I also have high keyed Special 20s as back up: E, F, F#, High G, but I rarely use them.
From these posts it seems that E harps are not much in use. So I'm wondering, why do all the sets of 5 harps available for purchase always include an E along with C, D, A & G. I can't be the only poor soul who bought one of these sets and never uses the E. Do you suppose the manufacturer does this to manage inventory? Wouldn't including a Bb harp instead make for happier customers? Caveat 'E'mptor yet again?
Last Edited by Sundancer on May 11, 2017 2:53 PM
I am a believer in having all keys in order to play in any key called by a band, like in the video I posted above. However, I have often wondered about E harps in sets of 5. You should gradually build a set.
I play 2nd position 80% of the time, and use C, A, D, the most, followed by F and G, then Eb, E, and Bb. The other 4 keys I use much less often. I usually play in guitar centric groups, and most favor sharp keys.
Why is E usually in the set of 5 Special 20s??? ----------
Doug S.
Last Edited by dougharps on May 11, 2017 2:13 PM
IMO, including an E in a set makes it appear to cover the entire tonal range. It also leaves an opening for a future purchase of a Bb and perhaps a Low E. If they swapped the E with a Bb, many players wouldn't need to buy any more harps for a while.
It took me one Open Mic Blues Jam to realize I have to have all keys covered just in case. Today, I bought a Low E Seydel Session Steel and a Eb Big River Harp from Rockin Ron which completes my set of 12 keys. I'm typically a Special 20 player, but wanted to try out the Big River Harp and read lots of good review on the Seydel low harps. I think 1st position on a Low E is going to be a lot of fun.
Can't wait to go to the next jam with an entire set. No more worrying about what key they're going to call out next.
Not knowing what kind of stuff you play, the volume level, and your harp brand of choice makes a difference. I would personally recommend that you get one of Brendan Power's Lucky 13 harps in E. While you don't use it much it will provide versatility when you want an E - providing a Low E and a regular E in one harp. If you were using an E often, that might not be my recommendation.
I would do a regular Eb, which seems to be your plan anyway. I do a number of songs in Bb and generally use a standard Eb. The low Eb works well for some jazzier stuff like "Tenor Madness" and "Take the A Train" but my LEb often stays in the box.
My personal experience with the Lucky 13 is with a Db and an F#. Like your situation, two keys I would seldom need on stage but wanted to fill out the set and thought the low end might be helpful for backing someone. ---------- BnT
Thanks, BnT. I've been doing marketing/branding for a long time. It's a good fit for me. I've done quite a bit of work in the music industry with artists and manufacturers. I should capture those and share them I think.
