groyster1
241 posts
Jul 19, 2010
9:01 AM
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I have a cheap harp case with keys of A,Bb,C,D,Eb,F and G it seems that the other 5 harps are seldom used tho to be safe its probably good to have all 12
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toddlgreene
1569 posts
Jul 19, 2010
9:07 AM
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Yes, it is. I always advise players to get a complete keyset when they feel they're at a point to play with others. No need to make a band transpose when you have every key. When you're calling the shots, you can usually sway/force the band to play in a key that suits what harps you play. If you never leave your woodshed, however, you might never see a need for all those keys. Sometimes I will play a seldom-used harp to practice on alone just to save wear and tear on my commonly-used keys.
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Crescent City Harmonica Club
Todd L Greene, Co-Founder
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HarpNinja
553 posts
Jul 19, 2010
9:20 AM
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I don't carry a F#, but I do carry a Low F#. Otherwise, I have all 12 keys with me including Low F, Low E, and Low Eb.
If you ever run into a band that tunes down a half step, you'll get some more use out of the other keys.
With the band NiteRail, I use use all 12 keys throughout the night. But I could get buy with probably 5-7 harps if I had to.
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Mike
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bluemoose
246 posts
Jul 19, 2010
9:28 AM
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Last Thursday at the jam I got tossed on stage with the SRV/Hendrix wannabe. He called some tune in C#.
Of course, like 99.9% of players I don't have an F# for second pos. Ended up trying a B in third. Sort of worked.
Now I gotta decide between getting a F# or a shaker! :)
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RyanMortos
729 posts
Jul 19, 2010
9:31 AM
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A full set of keys should gaurantee access to more doors then an incomplete set of keys.
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~Ryan
"I play the harmonica. The only way I can play is if I get my car going really fast, and stick it out the window." - Stephen Wright
Pennsylvania - H.A.R.P. (Harmonica Association 'Round Philly)
Contact:
My youtube account
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groyster1
242 posts
Jul 19, 2010
10:07 AM
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blue moose
had I been there I would gave you an old marine band inF# just to make it light on you
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Diggsblues
407 posts
Jul 19, 2010
2:02 PM
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Odd keys are good to have around for guys that detune
their guitars.
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How you doin'
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earlounge
128 posts
Jul 19, 2010
2:24 PM
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My local open mic is run by a guitar player that tunes down to Eb, so I use my weirdo keys a lot.
FYI I still have 3 new Hohner Blues Harps in F# for sale. $13 each (plus shipping)
EDIT Eb is SOLD
New For Sale Page for 2010
Good chance to get an F# for cheap! ;)
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Benjamin Earl
NOONE3NOONE - My Youtube
Benjamin Earl - My Bio
Last Edited by on Jul 19, 2010 5:13 PM
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harmonicanick
818 posts
Jul 19, 2010
2:34 PM
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hey bluemoose sometimes you have to not play
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bluemoose
247 posts
Jul 19, 2010
3:52 PM
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Ya, that's when I'd pull out my shaker. But it would be a custom shaker....with a sealed wood shell....with organic juju seeds from Ghana.
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PT
36 posts
Jul 19, 2010
4:06 PM
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I was just thinking about this the other day and realized that I use my Ab, Bb (both High and Low) Db (both High and Low), Eb (both High and Low)and Low F# more than most others in my case. It has to do with the material I am playing. Lots of horn tunes written in horn keys. Hope to see some of you at SPAH...I will be doing a show on Thursday afternoon between 3pm and 5pm.
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"Life...10 Holes & 20 Reeds At A Time"
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harpdude61
265 posts
Jul 19, 2010
4:44 PM
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I use those harps a lot jamming along to SRV..I think some of the SRV backing tracks on youtube are tuned down as well.
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Todd Parrott
143 posts
Jul 19, 2010
5:11 PM
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Why would most players not carry an F#? That's one of my favorite harps to use. I think the sharps and flats have a unique sound. In fact, every key has a certain mood to it. If the only keys you or the band are playing in are G, C, E, A etc., you're really missing out in my opinion. When I say certain keys have certain moods, I'm speaking of the actual key of the music, not the harp key. Maybe SRV realized the same thing. When I hear a song, I can instantly tell what key it's in because of the way it makes me feel. I can also do the same if you play a note on the piano. Some call this perfect pitch, but I don't know. I just know I can nail the key because of the mood or energy it produces. For instance, Bb sounds happy to me, while Eb has more of a darker tone. Kinda hard to explain, but I think music is more spiritual than what most people realize. If I were only limited to playing in 4-5 keys, I would go insane. All 12 keys are special in their own way. I think sometimes guitar and keyboard players avoid certain keys because they are more "difficult" or awkward to play in, but as harp players, we don't have that problem. :-)
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hvyj
463 posts
Jul 19, 2010
5:28 PM
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For blues, rock and R&B playing one can get a lot of mileage out of a set of 7 harps in the keys groyster1 mentions. Add an E if you play a lot of rock because there's more common rock tunes in B than blues or R&B tunes.
If you regularly play in 5th position for minors, Ab (for C minor), Db (for F minor) and Eb (for G minor) become important keys to carry.
Playing with horns? See what PT has said. Last time I used my E harp was to play "Love and Happiness" in Ab minor (5th position) with a horn band.
Best bet? Carry a full set of all 12 keys to be prepared. This also really helps if you are accompanying a guitar player who uses a capo.
I carry a full set of 12 keys plus a spare set of the 8 most commonly used keys (which for me are G, Ab, A, Bb, C, D, Eb and F). You never know when you may jam or flat out a reed--it's the nature of the instrument--so it's better to carry spares of the most used keys if you think of yourself as a serious player.
Last Edited by on Jul 19, 2010 5:34 PM
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boris_plotnikov
170 posts
Jul 19, 2010
10:16 PM
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@hvyj
I do the same. I have all 12 keys with me on every gig and turn plus 1 spare for used key, 2 spares for most used keys.
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jim
229 posts
Jul 20, 2010
2:31 AM
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I think they are fun to play. Much prewar blues stuff used Ab for example. Howlin wolf liked E.
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www.truechromatic.com
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groyster1
245 posts
Jul 20, 2010
5:06 AM
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you fellas seem to come prepared and why not?
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toddlgreene
1573 posts
Jul 20, 2010
5:17 AM
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To me, not having a full keyset is like a guitarist/pianist playing without a string or a piano missing a key or two, having to play around it and compromise his playing because of it. Sure, playing in multiple positions can solve some of that, but we all have our comfort zones. Mine is 2nd position, followed closely by 3rd, and I can delve into 1st, 4th or 5th, but they are quite limited. So, why limit yourself? Prioritize your GAS(Gear Acquistion Syndrome)and get a full playable keyset first, then you can delve into the latest pedal, mic, amp, etc. Those latter mentions won't make you more versatile-having a harp in every key will.
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Crescent City Harmonica Club
Todd L Greene, Co-Founder
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bigd
180 posts
Jul 20, 2010
10:16 PM
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I love playing my Ab, B, Db, and Eb harps although being less mellifluous than Todd I often elect for a low F# rather than a straight F#. Backing as many singers as I have been doing lately I could never get away with being key absent. I did forget my G's last week but that just meant i leaned on my C in 3rd more (I prefer 3rd with almost everything-minor and major-anyway)
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Myspace: dennis moriarty
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