jonsparrow
1270 posts
Nov 03, 2009
10:17 PM
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there was a similar thread to this, but im reorganizing my harps, an taking my sp20's out of my case as im running out of room for marine bands an i never play the sp20's. i have
A
B
Bb
C
D
F
G
low F
so im missing an E an some low keys an sharps etc.
but have like 4 A, 3 Bb, 4 C, 2 D, 3 G, an a chromatic. 5 of them are prewar, 1 is golden melody, some are sp20. most are marine band.
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harmonicanick
437 posts
Nov 04, 2009
12:52 AM
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Do you use the B at all?
I have never needed B, Db, or F sharp, so I do not carry them.
I prefer to have low F, like yourself, and high G.
All the rest I carry with spare A,C & D and Am,Em, & Gm
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bluesnut
112 posts
Nov 04, 2009
1:57 AM
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I have 12 keys, the band tunes down 1/2 step. I use
B, Db,Eb,F# and Ab alot. I still use a cheat sheat but I am getting better at the #/b thing. Ex: I learn a song on my D harp then rehearse/playout with the Db. I did not need flat key harps until I played with these guys.
Ab
A
Bb
B
C
Db
D
Eb
E
F
F#
G
Harmonica Nick, What do you use the Minor key harps for?
Last Edited by on Nov 04, 2009 1:58 AM
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Andrew
718 posts
Nov 04, 2009
2:44 AM
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I have all keys except E and F#, but I don't necessarily have all the highs and lows in the other 10 keys.
I only have a B because DeFord Bailey recommended it, but maybe he meant Bb?!
I have a Db because I want to play along with Captain Beefheart's I Love You You Big Dummy.
I have F and low F. I certainly prefer the low F.
I have a couple of low C's (14-hole + SBS) which I like.
I have D and low D. I prefer the low D, but maybe if I gap my normal D better, I'll like that too.
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Kinda hot in these rhinos!
Last Edited by on Nov 04, 2009 2:49 AM
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harmonicanick
438 posts
Nov 04, 2009
5:21 AM
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@bluesnut
I find the minor keys (LO's) really useful when jamming in with jazz or blues bands in a minor key; it allows me to play fast and fluid in that key rather than 4th position for say an E minor with G major diatonic. 'Summertime' sounds good using an Am tuning.
I also love the harmonic minor tunings for playing in eastern european music
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toddlgreene
85 posts
Nov 04, 2009
5:33 AM
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@ harmonicanick-of the LO minor tunings, which do you prefer? I have only owned one natural minor, other than the complete set of Melody Makers-which I've only used one of them to play a gospel tune at a funeral.
I always have a complete set from Ab to G, with a hiG(mostly LOs, but I am getting spoiled by a customized D MB I recently got!), and spares in a few keys, and occasionaly I trot out my SBS in A, as I like the way the higher octave jumps out for solos...I personally am not too fond of the low keys, even my G & A, but I'd like to get an ultra-low Seydel one day for s & g's.
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GO SAINTS!
crescentcityharmonicaclub@gmail.com
Last Edited by on Nov 04, 2009 7:01 AM
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congaron
228 posts
Nov 04, 2009
6:57 AM
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I will never have a full set, by my definition of a full set....lol. I will always see one i want...lol. I don't have a Db or an Ab in my "collection." As I learn more, I find I need fewer harps for a gig. Figuring out third position is reducing the number. Actually enjoying first position has reduced the number and/or increased the options in any given song. I have no idea what other positions are like, but sometimes I jam to Bluesville xm satellite and wonder if I am in another position on the "wrong" harp. I just stay there and try to overblow or bend as needed to play with it. Full set? I think collection is closer to what i am amassing...lol.
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Greg Heumann
157 posts
Nov 04, 2009
7:11 AM
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Full set! All the way. I don't use 'em all with MY band but when I sit in or jam, I like to be prepared. You'll use those funky key harps when you encounter a guitar player who detunes a half step to slacken the strings. Stevie Ray Vaughan was famous for this and there are many others. I also carry low F, Low D etc - one guy I play with plays a huge amount of stuff in C. I get really tired of the F harp, so I use a lot of low F, low C, Bb, etc.
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/Greg
http://www.BlowsMeAway.com
http://www.BlueStateBand.net
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barbequebob
36 posts
Nov 04, 2009
7:39 AM
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What you need to carry is based on what you're working with. If with guitars, G-A-C-D-F and sometimes B. With horns, all those plus flatted keys, and imperitive for me is to make sure I have a Low F and Low Eb, Bb.
Greg makes a very important point about guitar tuning that should be well noted.
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Sincerely,
Barbeque Bob Maglinte
Boston, MA
http://www.barbequebob.com
CD available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bbmaglinte
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Bluzdude46
252 posts
Nov 04, 2009
7:40 AM
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I have full set with backups on almost everything along with Am, Bm, Em Low D These are just stage harps. I also have a multitude of harps included in these are my prewars for my collection and various used harps that are destined for parts and/or different stages of experimentation of maintenance and tuning as it stands now my preferences are Buddha harps in the main keys I play and sing : A, Bb, C, D, and F with my own Marine Band customs as Backup/practice harps I have a mix of My own MB and SP20's throughout the rest of the keys. and I have a few Seydels that I got to try.
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Hobostubs Ashlock
94 posts
Nov 04, 2009
7:50 AM
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i firgures a A, Bflat,C,D,F,G with the bfat cause i love to play that and adams lessons and the F maybe,With the C,D,A,G being my main harps needed with the guitar players around here.But now im starting to think it might be necessary to have all keys for the different tuning people use on guitars
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Tuckster
253 posts
Nov 04, 2009
7:58 AM
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All keys but B & F#. Also have low D &F. I have to assume F# is high enough to call in bats.
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MIKE C.
16 posts
Nov 04, 2009
8:05 AM
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I have all twelve keys and in my experience I have learned to ALWAYS have all keys with me at all times.
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toddlgreene
89 posts
Nov 04, 2009
8:07 AM
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@ Tuckster-I use my Hi-G and SBS in A(upper register) to keep the alligators in the swamps and bayous around here-I'm the Coonass Pied Piper ;-)
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GO SAINTS!
crescentcityharmonicaclub@gmail.com
Last Edited by on Nov 04, 2009 8:22 AM
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TexasJeff
6 posts
Nov 04, 2009
9:25 AM
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I currently own MBs in the keys of Bb and C. I also have a Lee Oskar Am and an F. The Bb Am and F are all over 10 years old and still play great. The price tag om the MB Bb says $19.99, so it was a while ago haha.
I am going to be rebuilding my set and getting a mic/amp over the next few months.
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nacoran
320 posts
Nov 04, 2009
9:26 AM
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I don't have a B or a Db (although I have a C# Tremolo I can use in a pinch). I just picked up a chromatic. The only time I asked for a B the store was out.
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harmonicanick
439 posts
Nov 04, 2009
10:01 AM
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@toddlgreene
Wow Todd 'gators in your back garden! Now we dont get those in Bristol Uk...though walking back from a pub open mic last night an urban fox glanced up at me, so I whipped out my fave E minor and played a riff and the fox gave me a second look and a snort of derision or appreciation??
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jonsparrow
1272 posts
Nov 04, 2009
10:02 AM
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i picked up a B harp cause of that SPAH video. first cause i wanted to play along, second cause if i ever run in to a jam like that i dont wanna be the guy who didnt have that harp.
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toddlgreene
90 posts
Nov 04, 2009
10:06 AM
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Yeah, 'nick, I have had that very dilemma before. Louisiana Yard Dogs...And I think an impromptu harp solo would probably just piss 'em off! Watch those foxes-they're troublesome and sometimes prone to'cunning stunts'...
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GO SAINTS!
crescentcityharmonicaclub@gmail.com
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Sirsucksalot
76 posts
Nov 04, 2009
2:18 PM
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A
Bb
C
D
E
F
G
C 365. I love this one.
I'v never needed the Bb, but it is my fav next to the A.
they are all marine bands except for my C which is a lee Oskar, because it is all i have until i can buy a new MB.
Last Edited by on Nov 04, 2009 2:25 PM
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snakes
389 posts
Nov 04, 2009
2:19 PM
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I have all 12 normal keys, a low F, a natural minor E, and several harmonic minor keys. I use the harmonic minor keys for playing first position in my worship services as they play mostly songs in minor keys. I bought the natural minor to see the difference between that and the harmonic minor harps and found that for my usage the harmonic minor keys were the way to go. I have used all of the keys I own jamming at some time or another, but do not have backups on every key. Over the next year and a half I plan to finish my set of Fire Breath's and have backups of the same keys in Manji's. May take longer than a year and a half.
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lumpy wafflesquirt
117 posts
Nov 04, 2009
2:37 PM
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@harmonicanick
shouldn't you have played a fox chase :^)
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Hobostubs Ashlock
96 posts
Nov 04, 2009
2:52 PM
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whats the cut and dry least amount of harps needed,I been feeling like with who i play with 4 harps cut it most the time A,C,D,G i would rather have those 4 with backups than 8 of different keys
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GermanHarpist
658 posts
Nov 04, 2009
5:23 PM
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At the moment I mostly play
Marine Band G, A, C,
Golden Melody in C and
1847 LF, G
Far away from the full set, but still it suffices 95% of the jams
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germanharpist on YT.
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RyanMortos
435 posts
Nov 04, 2009
5:37 PM
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I mostly play C, D, A, Bb, some G.
I also have F, Low F, and Eb.
All of the above keys recommended on Adam's FAQs link aside from the Low F.
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~Ryan
Pennsylvania - H.A.R.P. (Harmonica Association 'Round Philly)
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RyanMortos
436 posts
Nov 04, 2009
5:46 PM
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Hobostubs I do believe you have the top 4 most used keys for traditional blues harp: A,C,D,G.
Number 5 would probably be Bb (Baby what you want me to do, Easy, Back Track, Help Me!, Mean old world, Ninety nine, Not to mention the majority of Adam's youtube quick hits, plus it's sounds good regardless your mood :) ...).
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~Ryan
Pennsylvania - H.A.R.P. (Harmonica Association 'Round Philly)
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nacoran
322 posts
Nov 05, 2009
2:33 PM
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I think technically, as long as you can play in first and second position you can play just about anything with 6 harps. You can pick up the seven most common keys as a set (Piedmonts et al) for $20-$30, then add better quality harps for more common keys. I think their are cheap sets of Jambones or whatever that come in all 12 keys. If you can find a shop that stocks them you can at least run them all through the bellows to make sure they all work.
I use my A, G, C, F and D most often.
A:
Aside from Piedmonts I've got a Blues Harp (nice sound but the plates stick out and bother my lips) and a Special 20 in A (nice sound but right now it's acting up.)
G:
I have a L.O. and a Frankenharp (a Piedmont with an even cheaper completely unlabeled harp cover on it, bent foreword to sit flush with the comb.) I just got my first Chromatic, a Hohner Chrometta 12 in G.
C:
I have a Frankenharp (a Piedmont with a Blues Band Cover), a Blues Band, a Blues Band with an opened cover, a Blessing Tremolo, a Huang Musette Tremolo, a Lee Oskar and a Puck (totally awesome and portable, I wish they made them in every key).
F and D:
I just have the Piedmonts, but they both play really well, especially the D.
My next big layout is going to be something to hold them all in!
GermanHarpist- I'm jealous of your LF, but not for long. I just ordered a Favorite LLF.
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DutchBones
327 posts
Nov 05, 2009
4:23 PM
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I've got most of the "regular" keys, what is missing is time and talent ............
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DutchBones Tube
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Violin Cat
102 posts
Nov 06, 2009
7:14 PM
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I haven't had a regular (Non low) f# in years....I make up for that though in spades with everything else I have blessed with.
J
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Andrew
727 posts
Nov 07, 2009
8:43 AM
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I suppose this means I have to ask myself do I want to buy an E harp next. I can foresee playing it in first position accompanied by a guitarist (that's going to be more likely than playing it in 12th position in A).
But should I buy a standard E or a low E?
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Kinda hot in these rhinos!
Last Edited by on Nov 07, 2009 4:41 PM
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congaron
238 posts
Nov 07, 2009
8:58 AM
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We frequently do a boogie in B or even jam in B just for fun. standard E is pretty high, bu it's good to play high harps so you don't forget how they feel. Seems like a low E might not cut through a mix very well if you were playing cross harp down low.
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Andrew
728 posts
Nov 07, 2009
9:35 AM
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You're right, congaron. I find low F about as low as I can go without having to change my playing style to a simpler one. On the other hand standard F is not a harp I enjoy playing often because it's so high. Oh well, Devil and the deep blue sea!
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Kinda hot in these rhinos!
Last Edited by on Nov 07, 2009 4:42 PM
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Andrew
730 posts
Nov 07, 2009
4:42 PM
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Bump - I just ordered a Hering Vintage 1923 in E.
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Kinda hot in these rhinos!
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