Hi, Please feel free to correct me: that’s why Im posting –To learn
song is in Bb minor--- Bbm being the first chord played at beginning
Am is the relative minor to C so Bbm is the relative minor to C# or D
I base most of my stuff off guitar and reapply to harp and Im definitely incorrect sometimes
I have a Bb chromatic and a C chromatic-[button in A and B-- 1/2 step down]
Couple questions; 1] I think the key signature would be C# or Db ??? That being the case my 3rd pos chromatic would be B [hold button in on C chromatic] That’s what sounds best to me, playing to him
2] Anwhere on line that teaches his version?
what else is con fusing is songs in Dm sound great on C chromatic---so I shouldn't I have a Ab chromatic for this ? confusing- I guess Im playin in a different position on my C chromatic [with button in] on this song? thanks
Last Edited by snowman on Oct 01, 2019 10:59 AM
I can't answer any of your questions BUT, we do the song in Am, my part is nowhere near as good as his. I do accent stuff here and there and solo in the middle. But G chromatic in 3rd. We also split verses, she does the 2 verses first and then after a solo I do the same verses. I'm searching for our vid of it, no success so far. ---------- Music and travel destroy prejudice.
It sounds like GS is playing on a three octave 12 hole G chromatic with the button in as though the instrument is an Ab solo tuned harp in 3rd position. Since it is actually a G chromatic it would accurately be called playing a G chromatic in 10th position.
When listening to his draw and blow notes I drew this conclusion about 3rd, though I could be mistaken.
I had to really listen to figure out some of George's other work on a song in Cm before figuring out he was really doing it on a 16 hole C chromatic. Playing the other song he used notes that made it clear it was a 16 hole C instrument. So he may be doing something unusual on Summertime, but the draw notes give some hints, and it sounds like a 3 octave G chromatic with the button in to me.
I didn't notice button releases, but I could be mistaken.
You are probably playing it on a C chromatic with the button in and playing as though it is a C#/Db solo tuned instrument in what would be similar to playing in 4th position, which offers a relative minor Aeolian mode. With it really being a C chromatic with all notes being played in Bbm it would be accurately called 11th position.
I usually play Summertime in 4th position more lyrically on a C in Am, but sometimes I play it in 3rd on a G in Am so I can get the draw notes and fat chords. I don't quite understand why he chose to play in Bb minor. But he did things his own way and sounds good!
EDIT: Regarding your statement: "That being the case my 3rd pos chromatic would be B [hold button in on C chromatic] That’s what sounds best to me, playing to him"
I forgot to address the above. "B" isn't really part of this analysis. A C chromatic with the button in offers a C#/Db solo tuned major scales with 3 or 4 octaves, not a B solo tuned instrument. [You can think of a chromatic as two instruments with scales 1/2 step apart, but really it is one instrument which changes the way we count the position numbering.]
When you play on a Db harp in "fourth" you are in Bb, with the minor Aeolian mode in Bb being the easy scale to play for 4rd position chromatic. But since it is really a C instrument, not C#/Db it is called 11th position.
Fourth position uses more blow notes than 3rd, which is why I suspect a G chromatic with button in for Bb minor, not a C.
Other than blues chromatic people, most chromatic harmonica players don't talk about positions, just keys and scales. Position is based on the key of the instrument and the key you play in. This song is in Bb (minor), but on sheet music it would have the signature of Db, as The Iceman said below this EDIT to my post. ----------
Doug S.
Last Edited by dougharps on Oct 02, 2019 7:45 AM
1] I think the key signature would be C# or Db ???
The key signature would be Db. Very rare for any tune to be written in C#, even though the sound of C# is exactly the same as Db. ---------- The Iceman
If the tune is was being played in Bbminor, the first thing to do with a chromatic is get one tuned to the key of G, and then play it like 3rd position, but this time with the slide pressed in and you're all set.
George Smith, much like many of his pupils like Rod Piazza, William Clarke and Kim Wilson, often not only have a 16 hole chromatic in C, but also 12 hole chromatics on other keys besides that. I know for a fact Piazza always has a Bb 12 holer with him besides the 16 hole C, and William Clarke also had when I opened for him a few months before he passed away, 12 holers in the keys of C, Bb and F.
George Smith also played chromatics in 1st position as well, which means more use of the slide button. ---------- Sincerely, Barbeque Bob Maglinte Boston, MA http://www.barbequebob.com CD available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bbmaglinte
A C chromatic with the button in offers a C#/Db solo tuned major scales with 3 or 4 octaves, not a B solo tuned instrument thanks for correction
George Smith also played chromatics in 1st position as well, which means more use of the slide button. thanks gonna work on that as well
the tune is was being played in Bbminor, the first thing to do with a chromatic is get one tuned to the key of G, and then play it like 3rd position, but this time with the slide pressed in and you're all set. Thanks I almost bought a G at spah 2 years ago. Think Im gonna get one I have C and Bb
Thanks u guys -Im on n off on chromatic--each time I come back I understand it more
Funny thing about learning---the more u learn--the more u realize "how much u don't know"--- Thanks again
If any of u find and instructional for his song--- let me know thanks
PS; spelling summertime
Last Edited by snowman on Oct 02, 2019 10:27 AM
I would never have recognized it as being the song "Summertime" from Gerswins & Heywards opera/ musical from 1935. Nice he was trying to play it, I guess but wow what a rough version of the song. Yikes
If you listen to a sampling of George Harmonica Smith's blues chromatic playing you will recognize that he usually approaches standards from his blues point of view. Certainly there are chromatic harmonica renditions of "Summertime" that are more true to the original song, but I would not compare GHS's rendition to the more lyrical chromatic harmonica covers of that song. George did it his way, and it has validity.
However, if I were asked to provide a version of "Summertime" using chromatic harmonica I would not go to GHS.
Here is a version by Smokey Joe Leone who is not widely known, but offers a jazz interpretation that I think is more lyrical and true to the original song:
Here is another by Jason Keene, a really good chromatic player:
Here is one with Stevie Wonder, cued up to his harmonica solo:
George Harmonica Smith stayed true to his style. It just depends on what kind of approach to the song appeals to you. There are a lot of diatonic renditions out there, too. ----------
