Mary Jane's Last Dance harmonica question

[jdogric12]

What harp should I be using for this? I've used a G in the past, starting with a draw to sound Am, but there's a note out of key that's tricky to avoid. Anyone know what they used on the recording? gf wants me to record a version for her... Thanks, J

[JakeK]

Isn't Lee Oskar the one that makes Am harps? Maybe one of those would work?

[billydlight]

try a C harp concentrating on draw notes

[jdogric12]

Thanks guys!

[sloop_john_b]

Just tried it with my C harp and was able to get it eventually, but it was trickier than I thought! I think the original recording is somewhere between A and Bb.

[JakeK]

Play along with a live version:


BTW, JB, how do you play it on the C harp?

[jdogric12]

Yes I seem to rrremember yrs ago the recordg being slightly out of tune. Makes u wonder if they tuned everything to that harp!

[sloop_john_b]

J, I'm thinking it was recorded in Am and the tape was sped up a touch.

[jdogric12]

Well that's not as much fun. Party pooper.

So I tried this and failed. I get confused on harps. What do you call a harp that sounds C major when you blow and G7 when you draw? I always call it C but I suppose maybe that's what they call a G harp? In the past I've had the best luck with a harp that sounds G on the blow.

[xpitt]

the thing with the harp is : when the basic key is ..let's say, in A , major or minor, you have to use a harp a quart up, if it's a Richter tuning, like all blues harps. Mary Jane is in a minor so you take a D harp, where the key is A when drawn; the rest of the blue notes you do by bending. Good luck !

[winston]

Jason,

check this out: http://www.fetherbay.com/HarpTutorial.html

[xpitt]

Jason,

check this out: http://www.fetherbay.com/HarpTutorial.html

Exactly ! Good site, Brian, thanks !

One of the best harps - the XB 40 - here :

http://www.hohner.eu/index.php5?1761

Fantastic tone, you can bend the tones by drawing a n d blowing.