OK -- this guide depends on your definition of "cross harp." The
usual definition of "cross harp" or "second position" is playing in the "dominant" or "5 chord" of the key marked on the harmonica ("straight harp" or "first position"). Thus, you would play in the key of
D "cross harp" on a
G harmonica.
The table NDO provides shows "cross harp" as playing in the "subdominant" or "4 chord,"
C on a
G harmonica. I consider this "third position", and save it for a few blues tunes that have the 1/3/6/2/5 chord progression, where it works well (check out
Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out, although that goes 1/3/6m/4/1/6/2/5, at least the way I play it).
I think the OP is basically playing G chords -- maybe C and D chords as well (?) -- and moving the capo around. Also, note that the repertoire's "Irish and folk tunes," which suggests "not blues," and implies that playing "straight harp/first position" may be the most useful approach for that type of music.
Therefore, I'd say that the
G harp would work for G chords un-capoed/open, the
A harp for capo on the 2nd fret, the
C harp for capo on the 5th fret. The
D harp would work for D chords open, C chords on the 2nd fret, or G chords on the 7th fret -- but the OP states they only capo up to the 5th fret.
I play harmonica and guitar quite a bit, occasionally harmonica and ukulele (I have a pretty nice arrangement of
Sentimental Journey), but haven't tried harmonica and mandolin. Does this imply just chording on the mandolin, similar to what Mr. Mahar is playing here?
Later: Re-reading NDO's post, I understand that what is meant by his chart, is that if you want to play in the key of G, you either use a
G harmonica played "straight harp/first position," or a
C harmonica played "cross harp/second position." G being the "dominant" or "5 chord" of C. I still think that the OP would find playing "straight harp" more useful for the described repertoire, but since "interesting interludes between some of the verses" is what's wanted, perhaps playing the melody note-for-note, as in the att. video, is not the only thing that the OP wants to do.
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