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Dirty-South Blues Harp forum: wail on! >
None blues songs harmonica to play in band
None blues songs harmonica to play in band
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Frankie
102 posts
Mar 21, 2018
8:58 AM
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For mostly pop songs playing with a guitar or in a band
Do I need to look for different harmonicas?
Last Edited by Frankie on Mar 21, 2018 9:00 AM
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Gnarly
2455 posts
Mar 21, 2018
9:21 AM
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I recommend Country tuning (as well as Major Cross and Melody Maker) and the use of a chromatic (button) harmonica.
Just my opinion, of course.
Might also consider a melodion, if you play keys at all.
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snowman
318 posts
Mar 21, 2018
11:05 AM
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How old is yr audience?----Im an old guy And I play for people from 21-85---
------ young people like classic rock as well as new stuff
-- anyway heres what I found online and my own list
https://rocknuts.net/2016/07/28/top-25-best-harmonica-rock-songs-of-all-time/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AWtSTzJnQ7M
1] I shot the sheriff I do in Gm I use a [ C nat minor harp]---can use [F 3rd] or C harp
2] Last dance with Mart Jane in Am
I use [G harp 3rd] everyone likes this –
its one of my ‘bail me out songs”
3] Stir it up ----- easy quick learner
4] Miss u---- minor song ---- easy to change around
---- stones
5] Midnight rambler
to sound close u have capo guitar pretty far up neck ??
6] folky “ the weight” I do in g play a g harp
7] Feelin Alright 2 chords great time burner—dave mason—traffic—joe cocker C7-F9 or F 7
chop it up and play with dynamics
8] dear Mr fantasy ‘traffic”
9] what I got “ sub;ime D- D/G or D With passing D/C---I use G harp over guitar solo
6] room to move---J mayall=== I do B-(A) B
-------E(D) E-----Turn D//// E//// No 5 chord
7] Sugaree grateful dead--- I do I B(A)E------------
CHORUS F#m-C#m-A-E---------B-C#m A---E
---------[B—E-----C#m-----A]
Gotta go later
Last Edited by snowman on Mar 21, 2018 11:08 AM
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TetonJohn
328 posts
Mar 21, 2018
11:08 AM
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I don't think you "need to." But you might find it interesting and fun. It depends on the specific songs and how you want to accompany and if you want to learn the nuances of differently tuned harps. Playing same old harps in different positions can provide flexibility.
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hvyj
3557 posts
Mar 21, 2018
11:26 AM
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I don't consider myself to be a great harp player, but I can get around on a harp in a variety of styles with at least a basic level of musical competence. Personally, I never use anything but standard Richter tuning, but I do regularly play in multiple positions. I'm comfortable in 2d, 5th, 3d, 4th and 1st and somewhat passable in 12th. But I don't OB. Never learned how.
For me, the trick is to recognize what scales or modes are used in a particular tune and then select a position that gives me most of those needed notes. (I don't sight read, but I've gotten to the point that I can look at a chord chart and have enough information to make an educated guess at which harp/position might work.) Every now and then you may need to use 2 harps, which is actually not very hard to manage. However, sometimes there will be "avoid" notes on a certain harp or a note in the melody that is not available on a particular harp. You just work around those, laying out every now and then if you have to instead of trying to force fit something that's not right. OR you can sometimes do what i call "note substitution"--say, you can't get a certain melody note, but you are able to get the third of the chord. Sometimes you can substitute that note and it works. Also, being able to get around competently on the high end makes it a whole lot easier to play all kinds of stuff.
But if you find the right position and know how to use it, some tunes almost seem to play themselves. Almost effortless.
With pop material, melody is often the most important factor and you have to hit the correct notes--not much opportunity to fudge or approximate. Sometimes 1st position is the best way do it--depends on the scale you need to work with. And, in general, the fewer chords you play, the easier it is to make harp fit the material.
For playing melody, an important skill is being able to hit bends on pitch--not playing slurs or blue thirds, but being able to hit a solid scale note. Like, for example the whole step bend on draw 3 or the half step bend on draw 2. Gotta be be able to hit those as if they were not a bend. Now you can often play non-blues melodies in 1st position without needing to bend. For example, FLY ME TO THE MOON or JUST A CLOSER WALK WITH THEE. You just have to hit the right notes at the right time. Of course, good tone is always important, too.
Anyway, that's how I try to go about it. YMMV.
Last Edited by hvyj on Mar 21, 2018 11:36 AM
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nacoran
9774 posts
Mar 21, 2018
12:37 PM
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We strayed from the blues quite a bit. I used regular old diatonics and some minor tuned ones without any problem.
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