3 replies to this topic

[curdy]

hi i'm a beginner and ive noticed all over this site people talking about 'cross-harp'. Now i'm assuming this is something quite important so could anybody tell me what it means?

thanks

[FatJim]

It means playing in a different key to the band. For instance if the band is playing in E major, you use an A harp.

[Dauber]

Another term for "cross-harp," in terms of harp playing, is "second position."

BTW -- it's not necessarily just to show off, i.e. like FJ sez, playing an A harp while the band is playing in E...but it's because the A harp can easily play in the key of E and the key of A....in 12-bar blues in E, you only have one or two bars in B, but the rest of the chords are E and A. If you used an E harp, you can play in E and B...not very useful.

[curdy]

ah right thanks you guys that's made me feel a little more "official" now :D

Thanks again

Curdy