What great harmonica songs are in C or G?

December 17, 2007 2:21 PM

I'm trying to make a blues harp "inspiration" mix-tape as a gift for some new players. They only have a C harp, so I'm trying to find songs in either G or C for them to play along with.

This previous question here has a great list of songs, but I can't find out what key they are in.
I've searched the green archives and done some extensive googling, but can't really find any information to help me figure out which key the album version is in. Short of listening to every song on suggested albums and figuring out the key manually can anyone help with song suggestions in C or G? Or a place where I can find out what key songs are in?

Thanks in advance.

posted by bingoes to Media & Arts (4 answers total)

Here are some blues and rock songs that are played in Open G tuning on guitar. If they follow the blues I-IV-V pattern (open G, C, D7) they should work.

Robert Johnson - "Love In Vain"
Muddy Waters - "Can't Be Satisfied" and "Rollin' n' Tumblin"
Rolling Stones - "Honky Tonk Women" and "Brown Sugar"
George Thorogood - "Bad To The Bone" and "Move It On Over"
Black Crowes - "Twice As Hard"
The Who - "Squeezebox"

You could also look up the songs mentioned in the previous thread on ultimate-guitar.com for the chords to help you get ones in the right key.
posted by DawgterFeelgood at 2:57 PM on December 17, 2007

You might try posting a message on the message forum at harmonicaclub.com maybe in the General Chat forum. There's a pretty knowledgeable bunch of regulars there that will probably be able to help you.

A few more I found on another harping site (the page requires membership unfortunately)

These are all in the key of G and are played on the harp in the second position Key of C:
Harpin' on a riff - Charlie Musslewhite
Chicago Sunset - Musslewhite
Let me love you baby - Buddy Guy
All the following are on the CD Harp Attack by various artists:
Down Home Blues
Hit Man
Second Hand Man
New Kid On The Block
and,
It ain't me Babe by some old guy.
posted by 543DoublePlay at 5:03 PM on December 17, 2007

Several Bob Dylan songs
posted by MtDewd at 5:07 PM on December 17, 2007

I'm just going to react to the "tape" part of your question. I was once a new player, like your friend, and the problem with tapes is that playback speed can vary a lot from machine to machine, so a tune in C can end up closer C# or B#, which is a bit of a pain (although some seem able to completely ignore the problem, à la Star Wars Trumpet . Never had this problem with digital recordings (CD or MP3).
posted by bluefrog at 8:47 PM on December 17, 2007