How to choose your blues harmonica key | Easyharp Tips
Hello blues harmonica friends, today I’m trying to give you some basic tips about diatonic harmonica different keys and I hope this can help you choosing your favourite blues harp set.
You can find blues harmonicas in all keys, low tuned, major tuned, minor tuned, so you have a lot of choices. Basically I suggest you to start in this way.
- Start from a C diatonic major tuned harmonica (standard 10 holes Richter tuned), it’s a medium key, not too high, not low, a good starting point to practice playing blues with harmonica.
- Add other harmonicas in different keys as soon as possible, so to play in different keys. In a basic set you need these keys: C, A, D, F, G, Bb. F is the highest key, G is the lowest. You can choose also other keys depending on the key of the song you need to play. Remember that you’ll play a lot in cross harp, i.e. second position, so in a key that is a fifth above your harmonica key.
- Each harmonica key will be your favourite choice depending on different playing styles: for example your A or Bb harp (medium low keys) will be your favourite choice to play boogie (like Walter Horton’s boogie), while an F harp (high key) will give more ability to play a fast swing.
- Try some low tuned keys: Low C is a good choice, especially if you like Sonny Boy Williamson II solo tunes. Use these low tuned harps to play nice chords accompaniments, especially in the first holes.
- If you like to play straight harp, i.e. first position harmonica (like some Jimmy Reed songs), probably will be better to choose a medium low tuned harp, A or G will work great, so will be easier to bend high blow holes.
- Before trying minor tuned harmonicas, try to study some third position blues harmonica.
- Minor tuned harmonicas are very nice and you’ll be able to play nice minor chords accompaniments and minor melodies. Try them if you like Balkan and Eastern music: you’ll have a lot of fun experimenting with Harmonic Minor tuned harps
In one of the next articles I’ll try to give more information about harmonica materials and spare parts. For Now I wish you a lot of fun practicing with different harmonica keys :)
P.D.
