Members New Trail Posted May 7, 2013 Members Share Posted May 7, 2013 Yes, I know that "Mary Jane's Last Dance" is super tired and every band plays it, but it still works, and the girls love it, which is why every band plays it. We just learned it and our singer wants to play the harmonica part. What key harmonica would be used if the song is in Am?Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Vito Corleone Posted May 7, 2013 Members Share Posted May 7, 2013 You could use a couple different ones but a G harp is probably best. Could maybe use a C harp as well Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members sweatpat Posted May 7, 2013 Members Share Posted May 7, 2013 Here's a tab for a G harp.http://www.harptabs.com/song.php?ID=2248 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Pine Apple Slim Posted May 8, 2013 Members Share Posted May 8, 2013 G harp for blues in C.G is the 5th of C,C is the 4th of G.So when you say 4th or 5th depends on your frame of reference.I prefer to think in terms of what key is the music in. If the music is blues in F, I pick a harp that is the 5 of F. C is the 5 of F, so you use a C harp to play blues in F.F is indeed the 4 of C but that seems backward to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members 3shiftgtr Posted May 11, 2013 Members Share Posted May 11, 2013 Most everyone is saying the right answer, but here's the theory spin: When you are trying to get a bluesy sound, the mixolydian mode works great. Speshilly since the mouth harp can bend notes and double stops. When you play a major scale starting on the fifth degree to the 12th degree of that scale, you are playing the mixolydian mode in the key of the fifth degree's letter name. Examp: the 5th degree of C major is G. Playing the notes of the C major scale starting on G and ending an octave higher (on G 8va), is the G mixolydian mode. In other words, in G mixolydian, C major is it's "parent" scale. The diatonic mouth harp (blues harp) only has the notes of a specific major scale on it (Examp: G harp only has the 8 notes of the G major scale on it). So, in order to play the mixolydian mode, you must use the harp to play the "parent" scale....So when you are jamming in G blues, you use the C harp to get the mixolydian sound. Bending and manipulating the reeds, help to create different sounds and in certain situations, different modes depending on where you start and which notes you bend. Howard, the original harp/keyboard guy from Bela Fleck and the Flecktones could get all 12 chromatic notes out of a blues harp with bends and could play any scale on one diatonic harp. But then again, he was a freakin jeenyus....just ask Little Walter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Dave Janes Bitch Posted April 10, 2020 Members Share Posted April 10, 2020 If you are tuned down a half step when you're playing Last Dance With Mary Jane, what key harmonica do you need? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators daddymack Posted April 11, 2020 Moderators Share Posted April 11, 2020 I'd use an F# in the 3rd position...I'm approaching the 'G#mi' as more like a B6, tonally, as far as where the harp would ride, but there are other keys and other positions that would work well against the mode... IIRC, the original version of the song is not tuned to A440 [song is played as A minor, but is actually sharp, almost Bb, but right around that 'fifty cent' line...]; for the live versions they were probably tuned to A440. That 'out of tune'-ness gives the harp that special graininess, for lack of a better term... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members pinkfloydcramer61 Posted April 17, 2020 Members Share Posted April 17, 2020 For minor keys use a harp a whole step down from the key and play 3rd position. Unless you're one of those over-blowing whiz kids (Howard Levy) in which case you wouldn't be asking for guidance here, anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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