In John Steinbeck’s excellent novel “The Grapes of Wrath”, there is a passage about the harmonica (The Harmonica: Always With You · Steinbeck Exhibit). Does anyone know what key it was played in back then? Or perhaps in the days of cowboys or farmers in the 19th century?
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Back in the 19th century things like overblows, overdraws, and even simple draw- or blowbends were unknown. The 10 hole diatonic harmonica was typically played in first position, so the key in which it was played had to be the key of the instrument used: C harp = key of C; G harp = key of G; and so forth.
Anyone who played in 2nd position played songs using the mixolydian scale of G (when using a C harp), or A (when using a D harp), etc.
Essentially, they played whatever does not require bends on the harp at hand.
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@oldprogrammer0x01 Most likely key of C!
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