harmonicanick
2163 posts
May 23, 2014
1:39 AM
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First time ever at a jam the guitarist called F# and I do not and have never carried a F# or Db in 2nd
Any alternative harp keys in other position?
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Kaining
44 posts
May 23, 2014
2:02 AM
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E in 3rd
A in 4th
D in 5th... might be tricky, you start to need a few overdraw/blow (9°, 5°, 1°, 10°)
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BronzeWailer
1279 posts
May 23, 2014
2:48 AM
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Shouldn't you be using a B harp in 2nd for F#?----------
BronzeWailer's YouTube
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Frank
4332 posts
May 23, 2014
3:14 AM
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If he ever calls Zb, don't hesitate to sit that one out...Buy a MBD "B" and be set free :)
Most jam guitarist hate harmonica players and for good reason most of the time...Pro guitarist, despise jam harmonica players :)
Last Edited by Frank on May 23, 2014 3:16 AM
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SmokeJS
252 posts
May 23, 2014
6:04 AM
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Nothing wrong with F# but as a guitar player it's not a key I'd be likely to play in unless a vocalist wanted to go up or down a half step to better suit their voice. At a jam session I wonder why anyone call for F# unless there was some other motivation?
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Goldbrick
443 posts
May 23, 2014
6:18 AM
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Hendrix, Srv etc tuned down-easier to sing all night and strings bend easier. So songs played in the G position on guitar are actually in F# because guitar is tuned down 1/2 step.
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R2D2
2 posts
May 23, 2014
6:57 AM
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While I get grief from some folks, I have always had a full set for the 1/2 step drop tuning.
BB King also dropped down as he said he liked a fretted sound better than an open nut.
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dougharps
621 posts
May 23, 2014
7:48 AM
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I wouldn't invest in the full set of harps just because of one guy at a jam.
Some guitar players tune down. Some just want to mess with you by calling an odd key. Don't let it bug you. Don't feel bad. If you are in it for fun, just sit the song out, or all the songs with the tuned down guys.
Just say, "It is a jam, so I didn't bring a full set of harps to play in those odd tuned down keys."
But...
If you plan on playing a lot, doing studio work, playing with a variety of bands in a variety of genres, you will eventually need a full set, and probably backup harps in all keys, too. Ideally, you can gradually decide, and gradually add those less frequently used keys to your set.
I started by getting Big Rivers in those keys, just in case. Since then, my whole kit and backup harps have slowly been upgraded over the years. All keys are now at least pro level OOB harps I have gapped, and some are customs.
When a considerate guitar player asks you if you can play in a certain key it is good to be able to say, "I can play in any key you call."
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Doug S.
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tmf714
2540 posts
May 23, 2014
7:55 AM
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The key of F# called by the guitar player would mean you could use a B harp in second-an E harp in third-an A harp in fourth,and a D harp in fifth position-
Last Edited by tmf714 on May 23, 2014 7:56 AM
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Frank
4333 posts
May 23, 2014
8:15 AM
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Darn good point about using "E" - you can chop down a tree with that harp in 3rd....
MBD in "B" are usually inexpensive on Amazon :)
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Greg Heumann
2729 posts
May 23, 2014
8:22 AM
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But ultimately - sooner or later you're going to encounter every key there is. I'm sure the F#, Db, B harps in my case are 6-8 years old but they are there if I need them. I carry all keys.
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***************************************************
/Greg
BlowsMeAway Productions
See my Customer Mics album on Facebook
Bluestate on iTunes
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SmokeJS
253 posts
May 23, 2014
9:28 AM
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Goldbrick may be absolutely correct that F# was called by the guitar because he or she was tuned down a half step. That's not something I would do if it was a typical jam session with a rotating group of musicians. A pain in the neck for other guitar players and bass players who don't have time to retune and if I was playing keys I doubt I'd be happy at all.
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STME58
828 posts
May 23, 2014
10:48 AM
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If the band really wants to mess with you, they will tune down a quarter step! ;-)
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STME58
829 posts
May 23, 2014
11:19 AM
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"Not if they've got a keyboard man"
The never tuned, honky-tonk house piano may be why they tuned down a quarter step. In that case, it is nothing personal, but the harp player is still out of luck.
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clyde
374 posts
May 23, 2014
11:28 AM
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You can say that again. My old buddy had a band for over 50years and told me horror stories about house pianos and his xylophone.
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jnorem
227 posts
May 23, 2014
3:08 PM
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5th position on a D harp. Yes, you're a bit limited but it's just a matter of thinking differently, unless it's F# minor and then you're just fine.
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Call me J
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A440
157 posts
May 23, 2014
3:46 PM
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our band has three original songs in F#. two are kind of country-blues that i play with a B harp, and one is more of a rock song that i play on an F# harp (the high notes sound great and suit the song).
like greg says, sooner or later you will need all the keys.
Last Edited by A440 on May 23, 2014 3:50 PM
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