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Dirty-South Blues Harp forum: wail on! >
F# or Low F# ?
F# or Low F# ?
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A440
11 posts
Jul 05, 2012
1:24 PM
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For those of you who use the F# with any frequency: Do you prefer to use an F# harp or a Low F# harp? It's probably the most useful Low Tuning harp... although it's a key that is not often needed.
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robbert
94 posts
Jul 05, 2012
2:43 PM
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Low F#. I never use the F#, only the LF#. It's a great sounding key in the low register.
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Todd Parrott
958 posts
Jul 05, 2012
6:12 PM
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I use both. For more uptempo songs that are rocky or bluesy, I use the regular F#. I also use the regular F# in my version of Amazing Grace to give the song a little more of a bite when the it modulates to Db.
And, for slow songs where I'm playing accompaniment, or even for slower Christmas tunes and ballads, a low F# sounds great, especially since many Christmas tunes require you to play the song in the higher octave. The key of Db sets a nice mood for such songs as well.
Many people consider this an odd key, but it is no more odd than any other key. It's probably used less often in music because the key of Db (2nd Position on an F#) is a more challenging key for keyboard players to play in than C, F or G. Not sure if the same is true for guitar.
On a similar note, I have never limited myself to playing harmonica in certain keys just because they are more comfortable for other musicians to play in. Every key has its own magic and emotion. In today's world of transposing keyboards, guitar capos, and even alternate tunings on the guitar, there's really not much of an excuse for getting stuck playing in E, A, G and D for example.
I also like using a country tuned low F# with valves.
Last Edited by on Jul 05, 2012 6:13 PM
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bigd
361 posts
Jul 05, 2012
9:03 PM
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I work backing different soul and blues-balady singers each week and need to use a low F# as the regular, i.e., high F# would be too competitive with the vocalist. What I need to do is find someone cheap with a quick turnaround to convert a few of my Golden Melodys into low keys: F#, E, and Eb's. Once upon a time Hohner made Low GM's (I have a LF that Joe Spiers tuned up for me that is a real "go to" for me). d
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A440
12 posts
Jul 06, 2012
5:28 AM
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F# is the only harp I do not own. I play in a blues/rock/folk band doing original material (as well as the odd blues cover here and there). Our lead guitarist/singer/songwriter is exploring new keys with a lot of new material. So I need to buy an F#. I will likely start with the regular (high) one since they are easy to find. But also want to try a low one. Have been using low D, E and F with some frequency and really enjoy the challenge of playing it differently on Low reeds. The Low F# probably plays close to a normal G harp.
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barbequebob
1972 posts
Jul 06, 2012
7:36 AM
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IF I'm going to use a more sax like approach or work with horns (including playing as part of the horn section) my first choice would be a Low F#, but for some other things, like something along the lines of SBWII, I'd go with the standard F#, but if you're not careful, that can wind up sounding shrill and unpleasant to a lot of people's ears.
Very few bands will ever require you to need one, but it's always a good idea to keep one in your arsenal just in case.
In bands I've worked with that were very BB King oriented, which means using keys that many don't use like Db, Ab, F#, I'm going to be part of the horn section and so the Low F# makes more sense and blends better with horns.
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Sincerely,
Barbeque Bob Maglinte
Boston, MA
http://www.barbequebob.com
CD available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bbmaglinte
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