Can't find the correct Harp
Sun, 04/19/2015 - 18:19
I am trying to learn 'One Last Kiss', By J. Geils, I know that the song is in Dm. However, I am having a hard time getting it to sound right using a C harp in 3rd position, Its close though, and it doesn't work using a G harp 2nd position, should I try a Dm harp? Where can I find a notation chart for minor harps?
Sat, 05/02/2015 - 10:12
#2
Thank-you, I appriciate the
Thank-you, I appriciate the advice and it's coming along fine.
On the Sanctuary album (and on the live Oakland clip on YouTube), Magic Dick is using a standard G-harp. He focuses on Draw 2, 3, and 4 in his solo and also uses bent Draw 2 and Draw 1 when he plays backup. But he always bends draw 3 down exactly one semitone to fit with the D minor main chord. If you're duplicating the solo and have good bending control, that will work fine.
However, the main chords are D minor, Bb, and C. If you want to venture a bit farther on those chords, a harp in Natural Minor tuning will work better than standard tuning, where Blow 2 and 5 will mostly sound wrong. Don't get harmonic minor tuning; this will introduce notes that don't fit with the chords.
But which key of natural minor? Depends on which brand. Lee Oskar and Seydel both label their natural minor harps in second position, so you'd get a D natural minor. This is like a G harp with Draw 3 and 7 and also Blow 2, 5, and 8 lowered so that you get D minor draw and G minor blow chords.
However, Hohner labels their natural minors in first position. Same exact tuning as Seydel and Lee Oskar, but you'd get a G natural minor, just like you'd get a G harp to play in D.