I was playing a solo in a song with my guitar player on friday thinking the song was in A.The harp sounded slightly dissinent and when I checked it turned out the song(or rather that section of it) is in Ab.I have worked out a really nice little second position solo for this so I was wondering if a Db harp would sound right and allow me to play that solo as I have learned it. Am I right or is it back to the Woodshed time!
Depends on what type of Ab Chord is being played and in the Ab change, You might be referring to a middle 8 or bridge in the song where there is a key change to Ab, if so there may be other chords used in the change. Either way, its best to find out first what chords are being used in this change as the chord values will indicate the kind of Scales you may want to impro on, and if the chords are diatonic to a particular key - what key/mode/scale type to use over the entire bridge. Once you know, share it here and I can throw you some suggestions. ---------- Big Blind Ray's YouTube Channel Mavis and her China Pigs
Hi Ray, the song is Fog On The Tyne by Lindisfarne, the majority of the song is in G, the Bridge section with a Violin solo which I am trying to reproduce goes D-Am-G-Em apparently, like I said the solo I worked out on a D harp almost works but is slightly dissinent.
There's no Ab chord in "Fog on the Tyne". Ab means "A flat"; Am means "A minor".
Are you still playing the rest of the song on a G harp? I think sticking with the G would work for the instrumental part, too.
Last Edited by timeistight on Apr 14, 2013 5:05 PM
I took a C harp and played the major pentatonic scale up and down and had a good time. I agree, that solo is different from the rest of the tune. But with careful choices, the same scale seemed to work "good enough" for my taste.
@geordiebluesman The chords D - Am - G - Em are still related to the base key "G" (they are V - II - I - VI). Using a D harp over this isn't a bad choice, it's actually 12th position.
Always bend the 3 draw a half step, except perhaps on the first "D" where it might sound ok unbent. It would probably sound best to mostly resolve phrases to the 2 draw double bend or 5 draw.
Otherwise try a C harp as Jim Rumbaugh suggests. Avoid the 5 draw.
A G harp would also be a good option (1st position) - no bends needed except the 3 draw double bend
Last Edited by GamblersHand on Apr 15, 2013 12:04 AM
Looks like you can stick with an G harp throughout which is good news!
The original starts off in the key of G, and a G harp in 1st position sounds fine
i.e The+4, fog+4, on+4, the+4, tyne+5, is+5, all+6, mine-6, all-6, mine+6, the+6, fog-6, on-6, the-6, tyne-7, is-7, all-7’ mine+7. or on low octave (not so easy) …+1+1+1+1+2+2+3-3**-3**-2, -2-3**-3**-3**-3-3-3+4
Chords used G, C, G , C, D, G.
When it gets to the instrumental break you hear a ringing A chord which signals the key change they then play D, Am, etc., and you can play around with-2,-2,-3**/-3,-4 -5-5+6-5+5+4, then key change back to G, Em etc., and you can improv. around +4+4-4+5+6-6-6-7-6+6+5
