I recently went through all the reissued Memphis Jug Band and Minnie Wallace recordings to figure out which keys and positions Will Shade used. There was more variety than I expected. Here's what I came up with:
For the "possibly" songs, all the notes were available on both harps, but one or the other seemed more natural to play. A few of the later recordings play in the key of B on the reissues I have, but I think they should play in C
Corrections / suggestions are welcome.
Sun Brimmer's Blues | key of G | C harp (second position) |
Stingy Woman Blues | key of C | C harp (first position) |
Sometimes I Think I Love You | key of C | F harp (second position) or possibly C harp |
Sunshine Blues | key of G | C harp (second position) |
Kansas City Blues | key of G | C harp (second position) |
Beale Street Mess Around | key of C | F harp (second position) |
Coal Oil Blues | key of G | C harp (second position) |
Papa Long Blues | key of G | C harp (second position) |
Sugar Pudding | key of C | C harp (first position) |
A Black Woman is Like a Black Snake | key of C | C harp (first position) |
On the Road Again | key of C | F harp (second position) |
Whitewash Station Blues | key of C | C harp (first position) |
Stealin' Stealin' | key of G | C harp (second position) |
Jug Band Waltz | key of C | C harp (first position) |
Mississippi River Waltz | key of C | C harp (first position) |
The Old Folks Started It | key of G | C harp (second position) |
I Can Beat You Plenty | key of E | A harp (second position) |
Taking Your Place | key of C | C harp (first position) or possibly F harp |
Tired of You Driving Me | key of G | C harp (second position) |
Memphis Yo Yo Blues | key of Bb | Bb harp (first position) |
K.C. Moan | key of E | A harp (second position) |
Cocaine Habit Blues | key of C | C harp (first position) |
Bumble Bee Blues | key of E | A harp (second position) |
Meningitis Blues | key of A | A harp (first position) |
Papa's Got Your Water On | key of A | A harp (first position) |
He's In the Jailhouse Now | key of C | C harp (first position) |
Got a Letter From My Darlin' | key of G | C harp (second position) |
Round and Round | key of G | C harp (second position) |
You May Leave But This Will Bring You Back | key of C | C harp (first position) |
Move That Thing | key of G | C harp (second position) |
You Got Me Rollin' | key of F | F harp (first position) |
You Got to Have That Thing | key of C | F harp (second position) or possibly C harp |
Bottle It Up and Go | key of F | F harp (first position) |
Tappin' That Thing | key of F | F harp (first position) |
I Got Good Taters | key of C | F harp (second position) |
Come Along Little Children | key of C | F harp (second position) |
Mary Anna Cut Off | key of C | F harp (second position) |
Jazzbo Stomp | key of C | F harp (second position) |
Gator Wobble | key of C | F harp (second position) |
The Cockeyed World | key of C | F harp (second position) |
Field Mouse Stomp | key of C | F harp (second position) |
Let's All Do That Thing | key of C | F harp (second position) |
Pick 'Em Up and Put 'Em Down | key of G | C harp (second position) |
For the "possibly" songs, all the notes were available on both harps, but one or the other seemed more natural to play. A few of the later recordings play in the key of B on the reissues I have, but I think they should play in C
Corrections / suggestions are welcome.