I was rummaging around in my harp case just now and came across a brand new B harp that plays beautifully. (Marine Band OTB.) As effortlessly as I could want, with great tone.
I sang a couple of songs as I played it--one that I usually do on a Bb harp, one that I usually do on a C harp. That's good practice: shifting something you know well down or up one key.
That made me think about how rarely a B harp ever gets called on. Who plays in F#? Or C#, for that matter?
And that led me to think about the Db harp, which is a similar kind of stepchild. I play one or two songs on it--and it's a great harp.
That's the gist of this post: B and Db are great harp keys. But they rarely get played, because the C harp, and thus the key of G, sucks everything nearby into its orbit.
Discuss.
Last Edited by kudzurunner on Apr 01, 2015 7:41 PM
I don't play a string instrument, but have taken a couple of passes at preparing songs to lead for mostly string players at the San Carlos Slo Jam. I was warned, don't bring something in B, it is too hard a key for string players, especially beginners.
B harp plays in A in 12th position, so I use it all the time for major pentatonic playing. Especially nice for accompanying a guitar player on country melodies.
I don't own a Db, but it would play in F in 5th position, which could be useful for minor pentatonic and blues.
EDIT: As pistolkat points out, I meant that I use a B harp to play in E in 12th. Not A. ----------
i only do a few songs with a B harp.teeny weenie bit is one.sometimes i do shotgun in F# and would probably play in 2nd with a B.
however,otherwise i would rarely use them.as a harmonica player i always have those keys in my set. there is a singer in philly ,sister blue,she does a lot of songs in C#,etc.so you need those keys if you back her up.
however,if i do a show with a rack ,say a solo show ,or with an upright bass player,i only bring high G,C,A,D,Bb ,F and G,sometimes Eb. i certainly wouldn't a B or Db for one of those shows. BUT,they are both great harp keys,so i enjoy them.
interestingly,around the house,i play an Ab harp and F# harp a lot,because i get those keys cheaply often. so i don't mind wear and tear.
if i want to try a new type of harp,i ebay it cheap in a less sought after key. ---------- ---------- www.shakeylee.com
I mostly use Db for playing material in the key of F minor in 5th position. But there's a guitar player singer who shows up regularly at a jam where I'm in the house band and plays "Little by Little" in Ab and I use the Db in second position for that. But in the circles I move in, Fm gets called more often than Ab.
"Devil with the Blue Dress On" (the Mitch Ryder tune) is in F# (B harp, second position).
Jammin along with my SRV collection and solo harp pieces is about the best way to get use out of the B, Db, and Ab harps. B harp feels good to me. Wish I used it more. ---------- www.facebook.com/catfishfryeband
I have a rhythm changes tune that I wrote in Ab that I play in 2nd position. For some reason A, B, and Bb just didn't cut it. In nearly 30 years of playing harmonica I've had 2 Db harps.
A lot of that "bad key" mythology comes from horn players and piano players, who obviously have to learn new fingerings for each scale, and does not apply to guitar and harp players.
I use the B and Db (and Low F# and Ab) primarily with guitar players who tune down or who use a capo. There is one guitar player in a band I sit in with who plays SRV's "Mary had a Little Lamb" in F#, but he doesn't tune down or use a capo. He insists on doing it in the original key without tuning down. Makes no difference to me. OK key for singing, too.
In my first studio gig round the turn of the millennium I had just completed my full set of keys. When I went into the studio I found those keys to be absolutely necessary, as the singer/guitarist tuned down 1/2 step. ----------
I've only been playing 2 years, but those are my last two keys to buy. So far I've not really needed them - I actually replaced reed plates on my C, G, and A, bought a back up C, and country tuned a set of basic marine bands first. I jam at a lot of open mic with singer/songwriters. I've mainly wanted the B to jam along with guitarists playing in C#m but then I've just played in 5th position on A instead - Especially since they usually end up in a major E on the chorus. I have yet to find myself wishing I had a Db harp.
I rarely use a Db harmonica. I think a lot of blues keys are determined by guitarists. Sometime you find guys that tune down for their voice and you will find yourself playing in keys you wouldn't normally. ----------
I've kept those two keys around for backing up vocalists and/or guitarists who tend to play more in the BB King school because much like BB, they tend to use the "odd" keys like F# and Ab and when working as part of a horn section, it's not uncommon to be playing in Ab at all. ---------- Sincerely, Barbeque Bob Maglinte Boston, MA http://www.barbequebob.com CD available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bbmaglinte
Personally, I carry every key with me in my vehicle. That includes lows and highs and minors. There's an old adage that tells us that variety is the spice of life. Like others, I also play along with CD's I carry. That includes not only blues backing tracks, but classic rock, country and yes, even jazz. Each has it's own challenges. Obviously with the blues, it's a lot of 2nd position bending. If you want to keep up with Charlie McCoy, you'd better be prepared to play first position with a C and a Bb alternating. If you're into "The Boss", Springsteen favors B major and if Metallica or Neil Young floats your boat, pack your minor harps. Play along with the Zack Brown Band and it's Eb and F#. (Zack is one of those guitar players who tunes down a half-step.)
I believe Brendan's latest post about playing Paddy Richter tuning for Irish music isn't just about selling harps...it's also about opening up our minds and ears to other forms, styles and rhythms. You can actually have a lot of fun experimenting. And yes, Db comes in handy with a lot of R&B tunes.
@pistolcat: Crap. Yeah, you are right. Serves me right for just going "off the top of my head". And it makes more sense that I use that key with guitarists a lot, since they really love the key of E! Lol! ----------
there is a blues band in tri cities in Tennessee that plays in Ab quite a bit.....they don't have a regular harp player but when they do they play a Db harp
My best playing harp is probably my B marine band deluxe. I play around with it sometimes. Albert king has some C# songs, it's fun to try to play his licks in 3rd, I think it can sound great, and it's an alternative to the F# harp of course. Blind Owl has some cool songs in F# in second.
We do "Give me one reason" in F#. It's the only time the B gets an outing, though it does sound sweet. I just ordered a Db and F# from my dealer directly the other day after five years of serious attempts to play the harp. I kept wandering into music shops on spec and asking if they had these flavors. They never did, even though they advertised that they did on their websites. I don't "need" them, but I might one day. IIRC, Rev. Dan Smith used a Db on one or more of his tunes as explained by Dr. Gussow in one of his vids. I am beavering away at this style. In ten or 15 years I might have something passable. BronzeWailer's YouTube
Got a great Ab marine band. Not so new, just a bit before the change to sealed combs. Taken to aping Stevie's licks playing 'boogie on reggae woman' just for an excuse to play the high end of that harp. Makes sense a B harp is good to play. I have one, bought on special as a way to try a different type. I don't play it, promaster, nothing to like about it. Ditto my Db. Looks good, looks like it should perform. Somewhat like a Karmann Ghia.
The best playing out of the box harp I own is a Db Marine Band. Unfortunately I NEVER use it on the bandstand other than the rare occasion at a jam. I don't even carry it to gigs with our band- it sits at home with the B and the Ab.
Last Edited by PropMan on Apr 02, 2015 8:53 PM
Some Stevie Wonder tunes in second position need these keys. To play Boogie On Reggae woman a'la Fred Yonnet, you need a Db and Living For the City is in F#, so you need a B for that. :)
i have a Db crossover that for whatever reason the 4 and 5 ob just fall out of... play it all the time alone, but never with the band.. played it just this morning
I just bought a Hicksville MB Db off of fleabay. It came in the original box marked $3, with the "How to Play" pamphlet and a mail it off to Hicksville add for a $1 iron on T-shirt transfer and/or the $1.95 leather harmonica belt case thing.
Historically, I don't recon Db's get played very often. It looks brand new. It's almost too nice to play. I kinda want to put it away for another 50 years.
I love all the keys, and force myself to use them all. Every key has a certain mood, and evokes different emotions, which changes depending on the style of music.
If you play southern or black gospel, a Db harp is a must. I always carry all 12 keys, and decide to use the key that has the right mood for the song. This is why I used a Db and F# harp on Amazing Grace. It just doesn't have the same emotion if I were to use a C and F.
I think guitar players and piano players have favorite keys to play in, either for ease, or for the sound of the open strings, etc. However, with the use of capos on guitars, and transposition on electric keyboards, it's easy to get the sounds of the sharps and flats if this is something you prefer for a particular tune.
