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Permalink Reply by Dennis Brooker on May 30, 2010 at 12:49am

Jerry - It doesn't matter what your guitar is tuned to, it matters what "ke"y the song you're going to play as to what harp you pick to play cross harp - If you play a song in the key of "A" then you use a "D" harp to play cross harp - If the key of the song is in "G" then you use a "C" harp, etc. - Hope this helps - DB

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Permalink Reply by Dan Sleep on May 30, 2010 at 8:27am

I have had the same question. Is there a chart somewhere that has this stuff in it?


Dennis Brooker said:

Jerry - It doesn't matter what your guitar is tuned to, it matters what "ke"y the song you're going to play as to what harp you pick to play cross harp - If you play a song in the key of "A" then you use a "D" harp to play cross harp - If the key of the song is in "G" then you use a "C" harp, etc. - Hope this helps - DB

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Permalink Reply by The Phrygian Kid on May 30, 2010 at 8:52am

its the iv of the key you're in Iggy...
if A=1, then b=2, c (c# really but irrelevant)=3,D=4..
if G, then a=2, b=3, c=4..
hope that helps

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Permalink Reply by The Phrygian Kid on May 30, 2010 at 3:04pm

Uh, yep, Garys right.. sorry to lead u up the garden path..
fourth one will work, but will not give you the blues sound you're after, more like kooky zappa- cartoon theme feel..

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Permalink Reply by sad sack on May 30, 2010 at 4:53pm

here's your chart for cross harp.

Song Key Harp Key
Ab Db
A D
Bb Eb
B E
C F
Db F#
D G
Eb Ab
E A
F Bb
F# B
G C

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Permalink Reply by HOLLOWBELLY on May 31, 2010 at 9:14pm

hello-I play cbg in A (cos it suits my voice)-my harps in D.

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Permalink Reply by Doctor Steve on June 1, 2010 at 9:34am

sad sack's chart is a nice summary. This is the "cycle of fourths" in music theory. There is a good description here: http://www.studybass.com/lessons/harmony/the-circle-of-fifths-diagram/. It summarizes by saying that all you need to memorize is BEAD GCF (B->E, E->A, A->D, etc.).

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Permalink Reply by Jerryrig240 on June 2, 2010 at 9:37am

Okay....you count for A on the circle of fifths....then the key of A is D....so I guess I am not understanding how you get to that conclusion.....not that I don't belive anyone....just can't remember all of my harmonica home work. When you use draw notes on a D harp....is that not in the key of A? Just wondering....

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Permalink Reply by sad sack on June 2, 2010 at 10:19am

here's the down to earth truth. most old time harp players probably wouldn't know about positions and the like. if you are playing cross harp (which is what you're asking about) don't worry about positions. use a "d" if the song is in the key of "a" don't worry about the math it's a "d" harp bottom line. oh, your in "g", then you use a "c" harp, period. memorize it if you like. how many keys are you really going to play in 3 or 4, then that's not too much to remember.

for the most part everyone's giving correct information. it's just way to confusing. my good friends who blow harp like nobody's business have no idea about circles, cycles and what have you. they know if your songs in "e", grab and "a" harp. too much mathematical thinking leads to stale boring music, imo.

btw, there is an unreal amount of guidance and lessons for harp on youtube. and this topic is probably better explained by someone there.

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