|
Dirty-South Blues Harp forum: wail on! >
As a Fisst tome Bluess Harp Player what key Harp s
As a Fisst tome Bluess Harp Player what key Harp s
Page:
1
PaulGSeg
1 post
May 13, 2012
3:19 PM
|
I've never blown Harp before inwhich Key harp should I purchase A,B,C, or D. I know about the Marine Band HarpI'm into Classical Music maybe could combine two two. Thank your for your time and suggestion
Peace and Long Life
Mr. G
|
Leatherlips
80 posts
May 13, 2012
3:42 PM
|
I would suggest a 'C' as your first diatonic harmonica as most tuition is centred around this. Then perhaps an 'A' would be your next choice.
Personally, I like a plastic body on my harps, but you may prefer a wooden body. Again, the choice is yours.
After playing for a while you will develop a preference for your favourite kind.
I'm not sure how much info you will find on playing in a classical tradition, so the suggestions above are for playing in the blues tradition.
Hope this helps you on your journey.
|
capnj
29 posts
May 13, 2012
8:13 PM
|
Well my man leather is right get a A and C,you can go cheap but better to go sp20,marine band quality.Then you can become hooked,and buy,blow out many harps except keys b and e,which don't get much play,although in classical/nevermind.Seriously if classical is your game a chromatic in the key of C will probably give you more mileage.
|
nacoran
5664 posts
May 13, 2012
11:50 PM
|
C, like the others said, is the most common key for lessons. It's also sort of middle pitched. High and low pitched harmonicas use slight variation in embouchure, so starting with something towards the middle makes sense. (Of course, that, and maybe not having to remember the names of sharps and flats, may be why so many lessons are in C to start with.)
Capnj has a point about chromatic harmonicas, at least traditionally, being used more for classical. The bendy, bluesy tones you hear harmonicas playing in blues are diatonic harps. It's easier to get those noises on a diatonic harp, but if you aren't going for that sound in particular a chromatic might work. A diatonic has 'missing' notes in the top and bottom octaves. You can add them back in with bends and overblows, and the middle octave is all there anyway, but on a chromatic you can play any note in any key just by knowing which position to put the slide button.
Personally, I like the sounds a diatonic makes. I'm partial to plastic combed harps (the comb is the piece in the middle with all the holes in it.) Plastic combs are generally easier on the lips, but the Marine Band is a great sounding harp. If you do get a Marine Band, see if you can't get one of the newer ones. The switched to packaging them in blister packs and then they switched to cardboard display boxes. The wood on the newer ones is fully sealed so it won't swell, which will make it easier on your lips.
These threads usually get a billion responses, so in a couple days there will be a ton more people responding. Welcome aboard! :)
----------
Nate
Facebook
Thread Organizer (A list of all sorts of useful threads)
|
Barry C.
319 posts
May 15, 2012
9:42 AM
|
For what it's worth...i believe Annie Raines & Jerry Portnoy both like to use an A harp to teach. Buying A & C would be worthwhile.
----------
~Banned in Boston!
|
ElkRiverHarmonicas
990 posts
May 15, 2012
9:28 PM
|
You could go the rest of your life and not need a B harmonica (unless you're talking about the German system, in which they key of B is called "H" and Bb is called "B").
Get your keys in this order: C, A, D, G, Bb.
----------
David
Elk River Harmonicas
Elk River Harmonicas on Facebook
"It's difficult to think anything but pleasant thoughts while eating a homegrown tomato." - Lewis Grizzard
"Also, drinking homemade beer." - David Payne
|
Post a Message
|
