Re: [Harp-L] Diatonic v Chromatic

[Winslow Yerxa <winslowyerxa@xxxxxxxxx>]

Smokey Joe wrote:

Within reason. The farther you get away from the home key though, the more 'rowing' you have to do. (rowing...working the slide). And (usually) the more breath switching. 

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Winslow replies:

I have to disagree with both statements. Number of breath and slide changes don't correspond with distance from the home key. But they do interact between themselves. In some keys, you can reduce breath changes by increasing slide changes, or vice versa. Other keys don't give you that option.

The farthest normal keys away from C are F# (six sharps) and C# (seven sharps - no natural notes at all).

The key of C can be played with no slide moves, or with two slide-in notes. If you don't use the slide, you change breath direct 6 times playing the scale from C to C. You can use the slide for both C (as B#) and F (as E#), and each of these will add two slide moves to the scale but will also take away two breath changes.

The key of F# major is played with the slide mostly held in, but you have to let it out for B and then back in again for C#. That's 2 slide moves and 6 breath changes. if you use the slide also for E#, then you have four slide moves and only 4 breath changes

The key of C# major can be played with no slide moves and 6 breath changes - the exact same as C. Or you can use the slide for Draw F and Blow C and reduce breath changes to only four.

All keys with 2 or more sharps in the scale require 6 breath changes.  But more sharps (slide-in notes) don't necessarily mean more slide changes:

Key of D: two slide-in notes (F# and C#), 4 slide changes (before and after each slide-in note); 6 breath changes

Key of A: three slide-in notes (C#, F#, G#) but still only 4 slide changes, because going from F# to G# you leave the slide in. Six breath changes.

Key of E: four slide-in notes (F#, G#, C#, D#) Again, only 4 slide changes because the slide-in notes are clustered.  Six breath changes.

Key of B: five slide-in notes (C#, D#, F#, G#, A#) and again only 4 slide changes centered around the two slide-out notes, B and E. Six breath changes.

Any key that uses C or F (G, C, any key with flats in the scale) gives you the choice to play F and/or C as a slide-in or slide-out note. By increasing the number of slide changes, you reduce the number of breath changes. F, Bb, and Eb can be played with only two breath changes.