Which Harmonica Key Do You Carry??

[@chops1958]

Paul, love the videos. thanks for sharing. I own 30+ harps, a lot of the $30-50 standard ones, all keys. but I'm weird, I mostly carry the Ab, a cheap Folkmaster. hardly able to play along with any music. but love the key, just comfortable for me I guess.

[@Pleasum]

Hey man! Nothing wrong with that at all. I've seen videos put out by other people who were playing that key. I don't think it's as uncommon as maybe we think. Whatever inspires us right? Take care!

[@karlosfandango6975]

I've always liked to have an A in my pocket, found D very handy sometimes... But lately I got one of those little 6 hole Seydel things in C... Been carrying that about and have learnt how to play blues in E on it, when jamming with people, 5th position I think they call it... It's awesome because all that bendy chromatic flat 5th bit is all on the 3 hole draw and you get a nice roll-off the 3rd making it a bit jazzy sounding, it's become my favourite blues position... Anyway that's what I been carrying about lately, a C, and trying to play everything on it, in any key... I just try to find a few notes that work, kinda pentatonic approach and roll with them, see what happens type thing... It's helping me get out that only playing 2nd position blues trap that I've been in for about 20 odd years... Also learnt to overblow on the little Seydel thing, hole 6 straight out the box, it was easy, taken me bloody decades to get that going, only to find it's about blowing gently, not hard LOL...

[@Pleasum]

LOL!! That's so true...less is more with the overblowing thing for sure. I have one of those Seydel Big Six's like you're talking about. I should spend more time with that. You've inspired me my friend! Good stuff!

[@bretthowser6777]

Cool video! I carry 2 harps. An A for random encounters with guitar players. And a Bb for whaling on Little Walter & Boogie McCain cuts by myself.

[@noheroeshere2002]

I tend to carry my easttop d more than any other. Sounds great for Irish tunes and has a bit of weight to it that makes it feel nice in the hand. I actually prefer it over my special 20.

[@Pleasum]

Hey there @noheroeshere2002, those easttops are great harps! Nothing wrong with that man, that's for sure!

[@tylerjones934]

I have always carry an key of C because i played bluegrass and moutian music. BUt when I play the country blues all music styles just for fun. If you play with a guitar player or banjo or every bluegrass and ukulele player i might had to play in second possion. Well i am thinking of getting the bluemoon combs and turn the harmonica s into country tuning Oneday i will find a jamsessons and jam with someone with a stringed instrument sometimes in my separe time I like to write songs and learn ole songs as well. so I will start with a guitar i have played guitar for practice and in then the banjo but in the feature i will try the ukulule and the resonator guitar once i will learn the banjo i have take guitar lesson since in my mid teens about 17 years old. up to i was 22 when i have can play some on my own. I just started to learn harmonica myself. i have wanted to learn how to take care of my harmonicas and put the cool harmonica combs with reed plates and etc. I am using the cover plates from before than new combs and reed plates will be good as new when i learn to customize a harmonica in different tuning like country tuning for an example. in the key of c the 5 note raise a half step if i remember right you might know harmonicas more than me. Thank you Ms.Tyler Jones

[@Pleasum]

Hey there Tyler, yeah I like the Key of C also. Especially for the bluegrass stuff. One of the great things about the harmonica is we have the ability to tinker with them a bit to make them more personal. Thanks for watching!

[@vs_830]

You are great teller by the way! It is really interesting to hear you even without any sound of music) I got just standard Golden Melody in C and now understand that it is the first step only. Which model and key would you recommend for the next one? Many thanks!

[@Pleasum]

Thanks so much for the kind words! Well, that would depend upon what you prefer. Choosing an instrument is very personal but I personally love the Hohner Marine Band Deluxe. You could get one of those in the key of A, D, or G next. One thing you could do is choose a song you'd like to learn, then choose the key you will need for that. Pick a song then pick the key. That way you are not only learning a new key but applying it musically! The MB Deluxe is a very popular model and my personal favorite. Good luck and thanks again for the encouragement!! Take care!!

[@vs_830]

@@Pleasum they say Crossover or 1847 classic is better. What do you think?

[@Pleasum]

@@vs_830 they are very different. the crossover has a bamboo comb and the tuning is slightly different (somewhere between compromise and equal) whereas the 1847 classic is a maple comb and steel reeds. They are apples and oranges. If you like the MB, then the Crossover or the Deluxe (same reed plates) are the deal, or you can go the 1847 which has the steel reeds and maple comb. They are all great choices but one is not better than the other. It's very personal. If you like the MB, then the Crossover or deluxe probably, but if your up for something else the 1847. Either way it's a win my friend. We get a lot of guys bitching about this and that and most of the time its a crock. If you are on the forums and they are giving their opinions on which is best, that's fine but remember its all subjective. Find the one you play. Find the one you love and play it! It's the playing that counts. The manufacturers these days are all putting out great stuff.

[@vs_830]

@@Pleasum many thanks!!!

[@Robert-yk8tx]

I carry a harmonica depending on what song or technique i am training for. At the moment that is lower keys for high register blow bends, jimmy reed style. Like some other guys said, it’s equally important to learn a few more positions on one harp.

[@Pleasum]

Absolutely Robert! Good stuff!! Thanks much and take care!

[@p1nesap]

Longtime jazz/blues guitarist, recently started harp with a Bluesband C freebie from a Hohner clinic I happened to walk by, now I'm ready to progress to a lower, deeper tone harp with a wood comb. I'm leaning to G as a good compromise. What do you think? Thanks.

[@Pleasum]

Hey! Thanks for watching. Learning on a G is just fine. Take care!

[@mikehardy6248]

I'm a beginner I just have a few keys about 5 but I got 2 c s so I keep the sydel session in c in pocket

[@Pleasum]

You've got good taste in harps my friend! That's awesome. Keep at it and welcome to the harp world! - Paul

[@stevejohnson9717]

Ha! It's always great to run into someone who'll accompany you (or you accompany THEM), and guitar players can usually play a progression in "E" (E, A, and G) so "A" is great to carry. But PIANO players aren't always into "E", they like C or G, so on and on it goes. ALSO, a guitar player may carry a "capo", making him VERY flexible for other keys. C, A, G, D, Bb; that covers about everything. Those little Seydel Big 6 are SO nifty!! You know what? If you're just carrying one harp, carry one in a key, a style, a genre, or even a SONG, that you've mastered! A "go to"; a favorite!! Spread the word about your love if that sound! Some will like it, a few won't! Keep harpin"!

[@Pleasum]

Hey Steve! I agree wholeheartedly on all points here! Great stuff!

[@Voltanaut]

I carry cheap/old busted harps I don't mind losing or breaking. I never take my MBDs/Cs, 1847s, or customs with me on the go. so I mostly play Blues Harps. It's the same with my bass. I have a beautiful Ric, but it's so expensive and precious, and I'm scared of chipping the paint, so I've gotten very comfortable with my cheap Ibanez.

[@Pleasum]

Man, that's definitely something I can relate too. I have a variety of harps but just tend to carry the same ones all the time. I've got a bunch of them that I call my "practice" harps that I just carry. Those Ric basses are absolutely fantastic instruments man! Happy New Year!! -P

[@Voltanaut]

@@Pleasum Thanks for the comment, Paul. Happy new year to you too!

[@AdrianWilsonjugglingmaths]

I carry 2 Seydels: Big Six Blues in C and Session Steel in A. They're fairly indestructible! I prefer my Crossovers, Meisterklasses and valved Suzuki MR350s, but I'm with you all on the keeping the best for gigging/earning a crust. Love the video, many thanks.

[@Pleasum]

@@AdrianWilsonjugglingmaths You are right about their durability! Good choices both! You've got good taste in harps man! Thanks for the kind words!

[@hanzkilian1806]

Hi again - Tell me, do you know of a case that will fit 2 chromatic harmonicas. I have as my favorite 2 Suzuki SCX48 chromatic harmonicas Key C & G. But I can not find a maker who sells a case which will take two harmonicas of this size. I like these two chromatic's and play the C on most songs but anything with notes below C4 I use the G. I hate having to take the two suzuki cases and would like to get a chromatic case to carry the two SCX harmonicas. Any Ideas cheers

[@Pleasum]

@Hanz Kilian, Hey there man! That's a good question. The chromatics I play are 16 hole primarily so I don't really have a need to carry more than one on an average day. One of the companies that tends to put out a lot of case type options is definitely Seydel. You may want to check their site. You can always send Rockinrons an email too. He may have something there. Or.....some of the others watching this may offer some suggestions! Just sayin'! LOL!! Sorry I can't be more help my friend. Good luck!!

[@dryocum]

Great info brother.. I’ll be getting my harmonicas today. I’m a beginner and this kind of info is great! I’m getting 5 Hohner Rocket harmonicas in the keys of C, A, G and low F and low C to start with. I’ve been playing guitar professionally for a Very long time. But, it’s not like I can carry a guitar in my front pocket and bust it out to jam anytime I want... but, with a harmonic it’s that easy. What bands and keys of harmonicas do you recommend for a beginner like me? Thx brother..

[@Pleasum]

Well, we seem to have some things in common! I am a semi-pro guitar player (I also have a day job, but used to do it full time) now and that can tend to stand in the way of my practice on the harp unfortunately, but I too got serious about the harp after I had at one time believed I would no longer be able to play guitar. I had serious hand issues that have since been fixed to a greater degree. I have always not so jokingly referred to the harp as my musical savior. LOL!! Anyway, You are on the right track there with the C, A, G for the beginning stuff. The low harps are great and are lots of fun, but I would get a D and and F next along with a Bflat to round it out. Just enjoy it man, this is supposed to be a fun instrument and I too love the portability of it all. One word of advice; don't get wrapped up in some of the negativity and non-sense you may see on some of the forums. I did that and it bittered me for a while. Just enjoy the instrument and be discerning with the people you listen to for advice and feedback. Take care man, and thanks for the kind words! - Paul

[@raymondallanwing]

Hi C Goldem Melody most of the time find it easy to O/B. has you do get asked to play songs that are not blues a lot .theme tune like Pirates of the Caribbean ect.

[@quinnvj52]

A

[@jnelson7360]

This guy needs a script writer. Perhaps he has some good information, but he rambles, his information is fragmented and disorganized, and often void of relevant details. This topic, for example, could be covered in less than a minute, and relevant commentary should not have extended much beyond that. Were the topic covered responsibly, the view count after almost a year might well have been 10 or 20 times his 2,000 or so.

[@Pleasum]

@ J Nelson I do appreciate your feedback and while at least some of what you say may be true, I don't do this for "views" or to become a "personality" on KZbin. I do this for fun and to hopefully help some people along the way, so I believe you may have missed the point. Lighten up my friend, this is supposed to be fun. Responsibly yours - Paul

[@Robert-yk8tx]

I disagree. I never get bored of these kind of talks. Paul is a little all over the place but that has a charm of its own. He is good at sharing experiences and has a loose unscripted and to me natural way of sharing information and ecpetience. Above all he gets the love for making music across. But i can understand your point of view.

[@petervandenheuvel1417]

So J Nelson you don't know many Harp Players then. We all waffle on a bit, your comments remind me of a time when I was in the Congo, oops I nearly started to waffle on a bit myself then, but seeing how you don't like people waffling on I'll stop, dam pity through that Congo story was a little beauty, but a story I see I will never be able to finish, oops ...