Will harmonica work with guitar tuned 1/2 step down?

MetalDog

Stupid sort of question really.

But I play in a band and we tune to Eb. Just wondering would a harmonica be compatible with this or are they all tuned to major keys. The one I have is a C.

Maybe we'd stick a capo on but that might wreck the bassist's head:P

nelly17

Google says yes

MilanPan!c

MetalDog wrote: »

Stupid sort of question really.

But I play in a band and we tune to Eb. Just wondering would a harmonica be compatible with this or are they all tuned to major keys. The one I have is a C.

Maybe we'd stick a capo on but that might wreck the bassist's head:P

Well, Eb is a note. The key the harmonica is in related to the key of the song, not the way the guitar is tuned.

So...

All a C major harmonica is, is one with the notes C D E F G A B

Those notes are in several keys, but not all of them... So play in G and the F is gonna sound weird. For example.

You CAN of course get harmonicas in any key you like, more or less, and people that play a lot of harp often have 2-3 pet set, depending on the key of the tunes in the setlist.

mathepac

First of all Eb is a major key and the answer as usual is it all depends.

Secondly if you have an song in the key of C (concert pitch, not you C chord shapes in the dropped Eb tuning) then a C harmonica will of course be in tune. Otherwise use a capo on the 1st fret

Thirdly, a chromatic harmonica doesn't have a fixed pitch and can play in any key.

Fourthly, the bass player, if transposition is a problem, could have two basses one tuned to concert pitch and one to dropped Eb. Or use an electro gizmo to change pitch on the fly.

MetalDog

Thanks lads