Black River

Dear members of the band or others, could you please tell me what key the harmonica is in in the acoustic black river killer?

Thank you

Is it a Bb?

I just looked up the tab for this—it's different than how we play it, maybe on the record it's in a different key. But live we play it Dm Am F C G over and over.

If I read this as the key of C, harmonically it goes: ii vi IV I V. This makes good "classical" sense.

But I can also read it as the key of G, where the progression goes: v ii VII V I. Works just as well—better maybe, in a popular music kinda way.

So I believe it's a C harp, I can't remember for sure, but that would be a versatile choice for this song, allowing for both 1st and 2nd position harmonica depending on which way the harmony leans.

If Earley's on the board maybe he can let us know definitively.

Hey, cheers Marty. Thanks so much. Yourguys response to fans is fantastic. I somehow thought it was Bb played mainly in the second position in this vid http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-TSOi7O_0J0&feature=relmfu

 Mr. Earley, any definitive answer?

Just talked to Eric - it's a G harp. And, yes, he's playing it mostly cross-harp, which puts it in the key of D. The song revolves around Dm so only a few notes really work over it. He also mentioned that he tried to answer you personally but forgot his password! Ha!

By the way, the original on the record is capo'd on the 4th fret, so it starts in C#m, a half-step down from the way we play it live and the footage you cited.

cheers guys. Thanks Michael. Thanks for your consideration.