I could use some tips on keys to buy next to expand my repertoire. I'm a songwriter/guitarist now in love with harmonica but new to it. Am I getting ahead of myself to try a minor key harp & melody/maker--country tuned harmonica before getting more proficient with the major diatonics? (I'm getting some satisfaction & feeling out of a little straight harp and cross harp playing, rudimentary though it is.) I have special 20's in C and A--like all kinds of music--have written a lot of blues/rock/folk/country in E,A, C, B, Am & Dm. Naturally I like to play other people's music too, but want to continue trying harmonica with my material. I'll experiment with different brands and models as I acquire more keys. Thanks from Norm.
Last Edited by on Dec 06, 2011 11:08 AM
Norm asks - Am I getting ahead of myself to try a minor key harp & melody/maker--country tuned harmonica before getting more proficient with the major diatonic's?
You'll be fine trying a minor key harp & melody/maker--country tuned harmonica. Since you already play guitar, your theory knowledge will suffice for you to understand the lay-out of those other diatonic's.
That's one upside of playing harp. If you get the impulse to try something different, you lay out $30 and you're off to the races. It's not like buying a new Strada....uh, Stradi.....a new violin and not liking it.
I think Frank and FM are right, but I would just say that if you were only able to buy a half dozen or less harps within the next 12 months due to a lack of financial resources then you should be a little careful. Here's why; a lot of guys who try the minor harps or certain oddball variations of the harmonica give them a go for a short while and then lay them aside. From what I am hearing most of the guys who love their minor harps only use them occasionaly.
When you are new there are certain keys and types of harp that get played much more heavily than let's say for instance a low D (that being just one example). New players also tend to be pretty hard on their harps and you just might bust a couple of C or A harps inside the next 6 months so you need to have funds available for immediate replacement in those keys.
So yeah, if you have the money for it then it might be ok to experiment but otherwise you need to first mind your basic core supply of keys in the ten hole richter tuning which can get you through 99% of any lessons (or jam sessions) that are out there.
i think you'd like the Am and Dm harps since you write in those keys. just make sure you buy natural minors and not harmonic minors. the NMs will have your necessary blues chords.
the Melody Makers and country tuned/maj 7th harps are great as single note pop and country lead instruments. ----------
MP doctor of semiotics and reed replacement.
"making the world a better place, one harmonica at a time"
Oh yeah, those melody makers have a beautiful, full, sweet sound. They really are beautiful to hear on say a ballad where they are played by someone who knows how to exploit their strengths. The sound of the lower register has a very special effect on those harps.
One thing I would consider when choosing your next key(s) is to get a fairly high keyed one and a low one too. They do feel and play fairly differently and it is important to get used to it.
Maybe a D (A in 2nd, E in 3rd position) and a G (D in 2nd and A in 3rd position), I find I use these two keys a lot when playing out, especially the D, and it should give you an idea of how high and low tuned harps differ.
I'd also recommend trying some 3rd position playing for you minor stuff. It's pretty easy to get started if you know 2nd position, and it can expand the use of the harps you have.
Thanks to all who contributed--very helpful. I'll begin with a few more Richter diatonics--exploring third position. I'll then probably buy one minor key harp and one melody maker to try--no multiples on these unless I see a need.
