Can someone explain the different keys of a blues harmonica, and advice on which

Question:

Can someone explain the different keys of a blues harmonica, and advice on which to choose when buying one?

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: A good harmonica player has a variety of harmonicas in many different keys. To be in tune with the other insturments you are playing with you need to choose a harmonica with a tonal range that corresponds with the key they are playing in. Diatonic harmonicas come in 12 different keys- one for each 1/2 step in a standard chromatic octave. If you play the harmonica in the key that it is labeled, you are playing straight harp or first position. You would be using mostly blow notes. This is the position that most of the "folk" type music is played , as well as being best suited for playing melody lines. To play cross harp (second position) you are playing the harmonica in a key other than the key in which the harmonica is labeled. The main reason for doing this is that the draw notes can be bent for more expression and to get your "blue" notes (flatted third, fifth, and seventh) which are not naturally present on the harmonica for the key in which it is labeled. This is the position that is mostly used for blues, rock, and country. In these styles the harmonica is usually not playing the melody, but is used to add fills and riffs that compliment and add to the music. To find the key of the harmonica to play cross harp, count up a 4th from the original key. So using this example, and depending on the style of music being played, if the song is in the key of G, you could play a G harp in first position, or a C harp in second position and both would "sound right" with the music. Of course the C harp could be made to sound more "bluesy" than the G, and would work better on blues, etc. The most popular brand is Honer, and Lee Oskear starting at about $14. There is a Honer package that includes 7 harmonicas, a case, and a belt for around $130. Good luck!