[Harp-L] Re: Help a learner

["JOHN AUST" <john@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

>
> Hey, John -
>
> Can you have Melody Assistant generate tabs in other than 1st position?
> I've been unable to figure out how to do this and the inability to do so
> puts a pretty severe limitation on the program's use, for me anyway.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Michelle

Hi Michelle,
Here goes:
Let's look at an example. If you have a tune in G major (1#) you would play 
that in 2nd position on a C major harp (no sharps or flats). So go to Staff 
> Tablature setup > Harmonica and then put Pitch of the note played ..etc as 
C

i.e. you're telling it you will be playing a C harp. Check the boxes for 
Allow bends, Allow overbends, Display unresolved notes then click OK. That's 
it, the tab is in 2nd position.

The rule is to get 2nd position Tab use the harp whose key is back one in 
the circle of fifths (or one # less) of the key of your tune. 3rd position 
is back 2 places, or (2# less)e.g. F (one flat) harp in 3rd position plays G 
(one #)

Here is the most useful bit of the circle: Bb F C G D A E B F#

So to play something in E (4#) in 2nd position use an A (3#) harp , i.e. 
back one space or one sharp less.

Care is needed with minor keys but E minor has the same number of # as G, 
i.e. one # and A minor looks like C major with no sharps or flats. Look at 
the circle of fifths and you'll spot that the relative minor is 3 spaces 
ahead. So F major has D as its relative minor.

Simply treat E minor as if it was G etc.

If you just try putting different starting notes in you'll see that some 
positions are easier (less bends) than others.

The program copes with other tunings melody maker, minor tunings and 
chromatics all use the pull down menu.

You can also customise Melody Assistant for other tunings and I've done it 
for Paddy and sort of done it for xb40 but only single bends on all notes.

Apologies for the long-winded explanation.

                                                                       John



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