ninehertz

1. • Hopkins
   • Any experts in the house?
     
     How do you get a harmonica in key with the tuning of a guitar?
     
     Say your guitar (and obviously vocalist would follow) was in Eb, but most harmonicas seem to be in a normal tuning
   • [21:27 on 01/05/08]
2. • Gareth
   • You could get a chromatic harmonica.
     
     I bought a c-tuned one ages ago but didn't really enjoy playing it sp it's in a daw somewhere.
   • [21:29 on 01/05/08]
3. • Hopkins
   • Gareth says:

     
     You could get a chromatic harmonica.
     
     I bought a c-tuned one ages ago but didn't really enjoy playing it sp it's in a daw somewhere.
     
     
     
     Pardon my ignorance, but does that mean it will fit any key?
     
     We play 'The Wizard' by Black Sabbath, which is in A, however, we tune down half a step, so it would be in Ab or G#. So, can we use a chromatic harmonica, or would a Ab harmonica be needed?
     
     
     
     
   • [21:37 on 01/05/08]
4. • Gareth
   • Harmonicas only play notes from the key they're in. A chromatic one can play all 12 notes so you could use it for any key. An Ab/G# one would be easier as you wouldn't hit any out of key notes.
     
     (Obviously if it's in Ab/G# minor you'd need a B harmonica as they only seem to come in major keys.)
   • [21:43 on 01/05/08]
5. • Hopkins
   • Cheers G
     
     Looks like there's an Ab harmonica on ebay
     cgi.ebay.co.uk/Hering-Black-Blues-Harmonica-Ab_W0QQitemZ18023...
     
     
   • [21:44 on 01/05/08]
6. • Gareth
   • 'The Wizard' is in a minor key so I think you'll need a B harmonica.
   • [21:49 on 01/05/08]
7. • Hopkins
   • Gareth says:

     
     'The Wizard' is in a minor key so I think you'll need a B harmonica.
     
     
     
     Have we entered the realm of musical theory now?
   • [06:30 on 02/05/08]
8. • Donny
   • I bought one with the best intentions of learning to play it.
     
     Hard Work.
     
     
     
     Hence the reason it's in my shed. Rusty.
   • [13:04 on 02/05/08]
9. • Gareth
   • Hopkins says:

     
     

     Gareth says:

     
     'The Wizard' is in a minor key so I think you'll need a B harmonica.
     

     
     
     Have we entered the realm of musical theory now?
     
     
     
     Yes. Notes in the following scales:
     
     G#/Ab major - G# Bb C C# Eb F G G#
     G#/Ab minor (Wizard key) - G# Bb B C# Eb E F# G#
     B major - B C# Eb E F# G# Bb B
     
     ie the bottom 2 are the same but with different starting notes.
     
     Easy way of converting from minor to major, go up 3 frets. B minor has the same notes as D Major. Works in reverse too.
   • [16:36 on 02/05/08]
10. • Laddeth
    • Stop it G, your blinding me with science!
    • [17:35 on 02/05/08]
11. • J Parker
    • Gareth says:

      
      

      Hopkins says:

      
      

      Gareth says:

      
      'The Wizard' is in a minor key so I think you'll need a B harmonica.
      

      
      
      Have we entered the realm of musical theory now?
      

      
      
      Yes. Notes in the following scales:
      
      G#/Ab major - G# Bb C C# Eb F G G#
      G#/Ab minor (Wizard key) - G# Bb B C# Eb E F# G#
      B major - B C# Eb E F# G# Bb B
      
      ie the bottom 2 are the same but with different starting notes.
      
      Easy way of converting from minor to major, go up 3 frets. B minor has the same notes as D Major. Works in reverse too.
      
      
      
      Thats odd, cos it SOUNDS really perky, that song. Isis is an obvious example where EVERYTHING seems to be minor.
    • [18:27 on 02/05/08]
12. • Hopkins
    • In original tuning of A, The Wizard is based around 3 notes
      A, A# and G
      That is a minor A key, n'est pas?
      
    • [23:18 on 02/05/08]
13. • Gareth
    • The 1st 2 chords I found tabwise were A and C which is A minor yeah.
    • [07:01 on 03/05/08]
14. • Hopkins
    • Yeah, I meant C, not G
      
      I really should learn theory and scales one day
    • [08:14 on 03/05/08]
15. • Gareth
    • Hopkins says:

      
      Yeah, I meant C, not G
      
      I really should learn theory and scales one day
      
      
      
      I only learnt in the last year or so after 10 odd years. I wished I'd learnt sooner.
    • [08:34 on 03/05/08]
16. • Hopkins
    • Did you have lessons or anything?
    • [18:29 on 03/05/08]
17. • Gareth
    • Yeah but not specific theory lessons or anything. I'd start on basic major and minor scales and chord theory.
      
      www.jazzguitar.be/jazz_guitar_chord_theory.html
      
      I learnt that then tried finding 'proper' chords in stead of just power chords and guesswork outside that. I came up with some interesting stuff by applying it to the guitar and it helped me with writing second guitar parts in Flatlands too.
    • [20:45 on 03/05/08]

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