Um... that is correct. I thought about it way too hard. I will edit....SuperAxe wrote: ↑Sat Feb 24, 2024 3:31 pmYou confuse me here.... I thought if he wants to play the F# harp as a cross harp, the key he needs to play guitar is the 4th down (not up) which makes it C#Sweetfinger wrote: ↑Thu Feb 22, 2024 7:28 pmF# country tuned is an oddball harp. I could ask the next 20 pro harp players I see if they have one and I'd bet none would and most wouldn't even be carrying a standard tuned F#. In your video, you're playing "straight harp", in the key printed on the harmonica. It's Bob Dylan-ish. For the majority of blues, rock, and country, you need to play in "cross-harp", in the key a fourth up from what is labeled on the harp. Try that same sort of chord progression, only in the key of B (in your case, as if you are in C). Your tonic note will be draw on hole 2.
Who plays the Harmonica / Harp?
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Re: Who plays the Harmonica / Harp?
- UlricvonCatalyst
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Re: Who plays the Harmonica / Harp?
Nope, it's a fourth above i.e. B.SuperAxe wrote: ↑Sat Feb 24, 2024 3:31 pmYou confuse me here.... I thought if he wants to play the F# harp as a cross harp, the key he needs to play guitar is the 4th down (not up) which makes it C#Sweetfinger wrote: ↑Thu Feb 22, 2024 7:28 pmF# country tuned is an oddball harp. I could ask the next 20 pro harp players I see if they have one and I'd bet none would and most wouldn't even be carrying a standard tuned F#. In your video, you're playing "straight harp", in the key printed on the harmonica. It's Bob Dylan-ish. For the majority of blues, rock, and country, you need to play in "cross-harp", in the key a fourth up from what is labeled on the harp. Try that same sort of chord progression, only in the key of B (in your case, as if you are in C). Your tonic note will be draw on hole 2.
Aside for Johnny who professes to not know much in the way of music theory - a fourth is the interval between most guitar strings, so the cross harp to use for a song in E major is A, A is D, D is G, etc. etc. Also for playing the blues, once you've figured out which harp you need for the key you're playing, you're likely to start on a suck rather than a blow. The rest is just feeling your way around, guided by your musical ear.
Edit: I just reread SuperAxe's post and realised I was at cross-purposes with him. In the interest of clarity, SuperAxe is indeed correct in stating that an accompaniment in C#major would be appropriate for an F# harmonica playing cross-harp.
I guess my misreading was apparent from the examples I gave above, but just wanted to clarify for future readers of this thread looking for beginners' tips on harmonica playing.
Last edited by UlricvonCatalyst on Mon Feb 26, 2024 5:53 am, edited 1 time in total.
- JSett
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Re: Who plays the Harmonica / Harp?
I know my 3rds, 4ths, 5ths, etc by countingUlricvonCatalyst wrote: ↑Sun Feb 25, 2024 1:51 amNope, it's a fourth above i.e. B.SuperAxe wrote: ↑Sat Feb 24, 2024 3:31 pmYou confuse me here.... I thought if he wants to play the F# harp as a cross harp, the key he needs to play guitar is the 4th down (not up) which makes it C#Sweetfinger wrote: ↑Thu Feb 22, 2024 7:28 pmF# country tuned is an oddball harp. I could ask the next 20 pro harp players I see if they have one and I'd bet none would and most wouldn't even be carrying a standard tuned F#. In your video, you're playing "straight harp", in the key printed on the harmonica. It's Bob Dylan-ish. For the majority of blues, rock, and country, you need to play in "cross-harp", in the key a fourth up from what is labeled on the harp. Try that same sort of chord progression, only in the key of B (in your case, as if you are in C). Your tonic note will be draw on hole 2.
Aside for Johnny who professes to not know much in the way of music theory - a fourth is the interval between most guitar strings, so the cross harp to use for a song in E major is A, A is D, D is G, etc. etc. Also for playing the blues, once you've figured out which harp you need for the key you're playing, you're likely to start on a suck rather than a blow. The rest is just feeling your way around, guided by your musical ear.
![Cheesy :D](./images/smilies/cheesy.gif)
![Cheesy :D](./images/smilies/cheesy.gif)
What neck harness do you use? I looked and there is a LOT of options
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Re: Who plays the Harmonica / Harp?
Johnny plays half a step down, so that song was in B…?UlricvonCatalyst wrote: ↑Sun Feb 25, 2024 1:51 amNope, it's a fourth above i.e. B.SuperAxe wrote: ↑Sat Feb 24, 2024 3:31 pmYou confuse me here.... I thought if he wants to play the F# harp as a cross harp, the key he needs to play guitar is the 4th down (not up) which makes it C#Sweetfinger wrote: ↑Thu Feb 22, 2024 7:28 pmF# country tuned is an oddball harp. I could ask the next 20 pro harp players I see if they have one and I'd bet none would and most wouldn't even be carrying a standard tuned F#. In your video, you're playing "straight harp", in the key printed on the harmonica. It's Bob Dylan-ish. For the majority of blues, rock, and country, you need to play in "cross-harp", in the key a fourth up from what is labeled on the harp. Try that same sort of chord progression, only in the key of B (in your case, as if you are in C). Your tonic note will be draw on hole 2.
Aside for Johnny who professes to not know much in the way of music theory - a fourth is the interval between most guitar strings, so the cross harp to use for a song in E major is A, A is D, D is G, etc. etc. Also for playing the blues, once you've figured out which harp you need for the key you're playing, you're likely to start on a suck rather than a blow. The rest is just feeling your way around, guided by your musical ear.
I have nothing to offer anybody, except my own confusion?
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Re: Who plays the Harmonica / Harp?
It was in F#, so a B would be the 4th, standard tuning would be Guitar G, harp Csal paradise wrote: ↑Sun Feb 25, 2024 1:57 amJohnny plays half a step down, so that song was in B…?
I think
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Re: Who plays the Harmonica / Harp?
Yep. I’m not sure the original commenters realised you were playing in B on the guitar already.JSett wrote: ↑Sun Feb 25, 2024 2:00 amIt was in F#, so a B would be the 4th, standard tuning would be Guitar G, harp Csal paradise wrote: ↑Sun Feb 25, 2024 1:57 amJohnny plays half a step down, so that song was in B…?
I think
It’s times like this, my trusty cheat sheet poster comes in handy
![Grin ;D](./images/smilies/grin.gif)
![Image](https://i.ibb.co/BwnnD5h/IMG-2955.jpg)
I have nothing to offer anybody, except my own confusion?
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Re: Who plays the Harmonica / Harp?
Johnny - I just bought the one they had (out of JAS instruments on Chalk Farm Rd. as I was in London at the time). It was under £20, but it does the job fine. It has 'Made in Germany' engraved on it, so it could be a Hohner one.
I watched a friend trying to use one at a gig one time and, just as it came time for the harmonica break, the part that holds the harmonica began to slowly descend to the 'hopelessly out of reach' position. So....mine has a wing-nut for tightening it up; maybe avoid anything that doesn't.
Sal - I thought he said he tuned down a semi-tone. So a G major becomes F#, same as the harmonica he was using.
I watched a friend trying to use one at a gig one time and, just as it came time for the harmonica break, the part that holds the harmonica began to slowly descend to the 'hopelessly out of reach' position. So....mine has a wing-nut for tightening it up; maybe avoid anything that doesn't.
Sal - I thought he said he tuned down a semi-tone. So a G major becomes F#, same as the harmonica he was using.
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Re: Who plays the Harmonica / Harp?
Silly Rabbit, don't you know scooped mids are for kids?
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Re: Who plays the Harmonica / Harp?
^ Yep, looks like it'll do the job.
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Re: Who plays the Harmonica / Harp?
Heres matched keys for blues
![Image](https://i.imgur.com/w2ayGTF.jpg)
![Image](https://i.imgur.com/w2ayGTF.jpg)
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Re: Who plays the Harmonica / Harp?
Handy, but whhhhyyyy didn't you write them in alphabetical order?
![Cheesy :D](./images/smilies/cheesy.gif)
![Cheesy :D](./images/smilies/cheesy.gif)
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Re: Who plays the Harmonica / Harp?
Wrote it many moons before picking up a guitar, had no concept of keys, scales etc
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Re: Who plays the Harmonica / Harp?
For playing in C, I prefer a low tuned F. Serving suggestion:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JdUwbDts6gU
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Re: Who plays the Harmonica / Harp?
That Henderson tune is actually quite basic as far as blues harp playing goes. If Popeye or Pop Goes The Weasel, Three Blind Mice, or whatever turns you on, great. I would have almost zero need for learning or playing stuff like that, and what I would learn from those wouldn't translate to modern pop, rock, country, or blues. I would put more effort into simple things I'm likely to use or lead into the type of things I might use, like this very simple part one could just fish around and find:Nudger wrote: ↑Mon Feb 26, 2024 2:17 amNice clip!
Lets keep it simple for the nube..
https://youtu.be/5_g1Ot-QOtQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aowSGxim_O8
I didn't check but I think this is 3rd position, probably playing a G harp? I know it isn't a D. I learned it to sit in with a friend's cover band about 20 years ago.