groyster1
2432 posts
Oct 10, 2013
11:42 AM
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I just saw an interview of honeyboy Edwards where he said walter could take just 3 different key harps and play with anybody....anybody know which keys he used?
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barbequebob
2351 posts
Oct 10, 2013
12:03 PM
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Usually an A, C and D. ---------- Sincerely, Barbeque Bob Maglinte Boston, MA http://www.barbequebob.com CD available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bbmaglinte
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timeistight
1402 posts
Oct 10, 2013
1:42 PM
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How would he play in Ab, Bb or Eb with that set?
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Martin
481 posts
Oct 10, 2013
2:58 PM
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Couldn“t it be that Honeyboy was just a little bit misinformed? Or are the any cuts with BWH where he plays in, say, 12th?
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Joe_L
2346 posts
Oct 11, 2013
1:39 AM
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He probably wouldn't play in Ab, Bb or Eb. He also wouldn't play in say 12th.
Listen to his recordings as a front man and as a side man. He probably didn't play much in F# either. Some of you guys worry about weird shit!
If playing in all 12 keys with a couple of harps is what you are concerned with, you would be very disappointed and probably don't know much about blues.
---------- The Blues Photo Gallery
Last Edited by Joe_L on Oct 11, 2013 1:41 AM
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Joe Strouzer
31 posts
Oct 11, 2013
3:51 AM
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I agree with Joe_L on this, its unlikey Horton had to play a huge amount of keys with the people he was playing with. to my knowledge I've only heard Horton play in 1st 2nd and 3rd position. I caught Honeyboy live a good few years back before he passed away and I dont think he was into changing keys very much... but that said it was a great gig! I play with a slide guitarist and I generally only use 3 harps in a standard set (could be up to 2 hours) G C and D(we play in D, Dmin and G). Infact most old blues guys I have seen rarely ever changed keys. I remember watching Louisiana Red and he did one song in the whole show with a capo, "This one's in F!" he said! everything else was in E. Anyway, here is Dave Honeyboy Edwards, Johnny Shines and Walter Horton jamming in the Thunderbird Motel:
---------- www.josephstrouzer.com
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Frank
2977 posts
Oct 11, 2013
4:15 AM
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I read somewhere that Cotton would play whole gigs with an "A" harp... and I recall Kim stating - in his young days, would have an "A" harp stashed behind the cash registers at the blues jams he would frequent - so he was always prepared, if he stopped by :)
Last Edited by Frank on Oct 11, 2013 4:16 AM
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Kingley
3181 posts
Oct 11, 2013
5:46 AM
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I agree with everything Joe said. I
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timeistight
1403 posts
Oct 11, 2013
6:58 AM
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Bb is a pretty common blues key; I wouldn't carry a set that wouldn't give me that key.
I'm not quite as impressed with a three-harp set if you only play in three keys.
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Kingley
3182 posts
Oct 11, 2013
7:06 AM
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"Bb is a pretty common blues key"
Amongst guitarists at your average blues jam it isn't a very common key at all. In that environment which is guitar dominated, which is about 95% of all blues jams you're more likely to come across A, E, D, G and C more than you'll ever find them playing in Bb. In fact in over twenty years of attending blues jams pretty much the only time I ever come across Bb or F at a blues jam is when I've been fronting the jam band and called that key.
Last Edited by Kingley on Oct 11, 2013 7:08 AM
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tmf714
2088 posts
Oct 11, 2013
7:25 AM
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At the Beach Shack jam last night,we played 4 songs in Bb-you need to be prepared.
We also did 2 in the key of F-
Last Edited by tmf714 on Oct 11, 2013 7:26 AM
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Kingley
3183 posts
Oct 11, 2013
7:45 AM
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"At the Beach Shack jam last night,we played 4 songs in Bb-you need to be prepared."
Which is why I personally carry seven harps in my case, G, A, Bb, C, D, Eb and F. If I can't cover it with those harps playing in the first three positions then I don't play on it. The only time I've ever needed Bb and Eb are when I've called the song, so I could get away with carrying juts five harps. The reasons I don't are my harp case holds seven harps and I like to sing in Bb and F, plus I prefer using my Bb harp for third position in C instead of an F harp in second most of the time.
Last Edited by Kingley on Oct 11, 2013 7:49 AM
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groyster1
2433 posts
Oct 11, 2013
10:33 AM
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"I prefer playing Bb in 3rd position instead of F in second"....amen to that Bb is my favorite harp key and F is my least favorite
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tmf714
2089 posts
Oct 11, 2013
11:08 AM
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I was talking guitar key-so for Bb I used an Ab in third postion-killer.
I also hardly ever use an F harp for a song in the key of C-.
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Kingley
3187 posts
Oct 11, 2013
11:26 AM
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Yeah Tom an Ab in third does sound great. I'd use one as I love singing in Bb, but for some strange reason it throws my pitch off on vocals so I end up using an Eb instead. Not sure why it throws my vocals off key, but I just can't pitch it when in third. It's very odd indeed.
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