From: "Michael Polesky M.P.A." Date: Fri, 01 Nov 1996 15:22:04 -0800 Subject: [Fwd: Re: harp keys]
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Date: Fri, 01 Nov 1996 15:12:57 -0800 From: "Michael Polesky M.P.A." Organization: New California Business Associates X-Mailer: Mozilla 2.01E-PBXE (Win16; I) MIME-Version: 1.0 To: Mike Curtis CC: harp~aeply.com Subject: Re: harp keys References:
Dear Mike, Do I hear you on "nothing but the blues" on KLON every sat & sun (2-6). Great stuff. I had posted a long-winded explanation earlier, but neglected to address this point. As a jazz player, I can assure everybody that it is acceptable to ask what key a blues or blues oriented tune is in. We often play blues and simply define it as a "regular", "minor", blues style", or altered blues in whatever key (Bb, F, G, C common for jazz). Never hesitate to ask. It will make you sound professional. In addittion sometimes the rythm section changes key or calls for someone to step in at a time when they are either joining withiut having played there before also. As a result even expereinced players ask the question "what key" Unfortunately (or fortunately) I don't have perfect pitch. I have perfect "relative" pitch or "ear training" that allows me to recognize when the I, IV, V's and key changes are going to and therefore can ask the starting note or (for jazz needs) chord and follow the progression from there. Since I play chromatic I don't need to think about which harp. The advantage of not having perfect pitch is that the violin players in my college theory classes always complained if the piano tuning had slipped out of A 440 or the orchestra was tuned slightly higher or lower. It interfered with there ablility to tune their instrument. I thoguht it was a curse to some degree. Also, since I play rudimentary guitar and keyboards I often look at one or the other to discern the key without asking. This drives them crazy when they see me choose a diatonic because they know I know what key. With a chromatic I can slip in a few notes and figure it out pretty quick any way. These are a big help with guitar players who don't know music as well since they can't tell you the key. Just get used to reading the fingers backwards. Finally, ask if there is a "lead sheet" or music. These often show the chords of the tune and can give the info needed. Reading musicians often complain about harp players not knowing the key. Some jazz musicians who have had limited experience have also been insulted that a harmonica player would tell them what to do (until I play it for them on their instrument) because of the low respect afforded harp players regarding general theory. I think that if we all "conspire" to learn basic theory, reading & writing, we could take over the world. So never hesitate to ask the key or for music. Most of the other guys don't play by ear either, but rather follow a chart with a well mapped path. Plus, if you get good at reading these charts you can always have alot of fun. For you, Mike I know that this is already part of your repetoire, but I thought it would be nice to hear from a jazzer who can say that the question "what key" is asked by every musician (even drummers sometimes - for fun :)), to let everybody know that they shouldn't be embarassed not to have perfect pitch or some prescient knowledge of key before learning the tune.
