If the guitar player or band is in the key of a simply look at the chart and across from a it tells you to use a harmonica in the key of d.
Harmonica in the key of b.
The left column represents the key of the harmonica labeled in 1 st position straight harp which plays the major scale starting from hole 4 blow on the harmonica.
Since there are 12 keys g a bb b c etc there are in theory 12 different positions on a harmonica.
And if the answer is obvious it is better to know than to ask.
The major diatonic harmonica is commonly used for playing blues and rock starting from hole 2 draw.
For example if you compare a c harmonica with a piano the c harmonica can play the white key notes only.
This chart shows 4 fundamental common playing positions keys of music that major diatonic harmonicas may be played in.
If you know the key of the harmonica you have and want to know what key you will be in for 2nd position count up 5 notes give the harmonica a high five and count up 5 notes from the 1st position key.
Many players will indicate the key but some will not.
Key of song harmonica to use.
You can remember this because harmonica and high five both start with the letter h.
The standard diatonic harmonica comes in 12 standard keys.
Having a single reed for each note.
If the guitar player says hey we are playing in e then check the chart and grab your a harp.
So you ll eventually own several diatonics to play in several keys.
This is to help you remember what you just learned.
To play in the key of c on a c harmonica straight harp you d just have to start and finish all the scales on the note of c.
Asking the key before a song starts is reasonable asking the key during a song is not.
Beginning harmonica players usually need to be told which harmonica key to use during jams.
Which key harmonica should i use.
Watch this video and you will find out the secret.
Each diatonic harmonica includes the notes that belong to just one key such as the key of c g or b flat.
This also means that some notes are missing.
The common 10 hole harmonica is a diatonic instrument meaning that it is designed to play in one key c for a c harmonica.
Two columns to the left of it shows bb b flat in the key of harmonica column.
Click here to go to the major diatonic key chart showing the various keys of music that each key of harmonica can play in using 1 st 2 nd 3 rd 4 th positions.
The diatonic is a single reed harmonica with only one reed to play each note.
However if you are just getting started we feel that owning the first 5 keys listed above would give you enough flexibility to play in many situations.
Different playing positions allow us to play in different keys on a single harmonica.
