Fwd: [Harp-L] Octaves - theory and practice

["Winslow Yerxa" <winslowyerxa@xxxxxxxxx>]

Theory:

If you play a strong, then stop it halfway along its length, it
vibrates twice as fast. It sounds like the same note, just higher. Men
and women will often sing the same melody an octave apart without even
thinking.

We call it "octave" in reference to the number "8". Count 8 notes up
the scale (count the first note as "1" and you come to the octave,
which will have the same letter name as your starting note - the
octave of A is A, the octave of B is B, etc.

On the harmonica, to play two notes together that are an octave apart
(to play an octave) you have to block out the holes in between the two
notes. On a diatonic harmonica the number of holes varies:

- All blow octaves can be played with a four-hole spread. Your mouth
covers four holes and blocks out the two in the middle.

- Draw octaves mostly require a five-hole spread, blocking out three
holes in the moddle. There are two exceptions:

  x Draw 4 and Draw 1 form an octave with a four-hole spread.

  x  Draw 6 has no lower octave note (unless you can play Draw 3 bent
down two semitones while you play unbent Draw 6 - some advanced
players can do this.)

To play in octaves while laternating between blow and draw you
constantly have to adjust the spread and the size of your block.

Winslow

--- In harp-l-archives@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, "Matt Smart"
<matthewsmart@...> wrote:

If you had to explain what an octave was to a student, how would
explain it (theory) and technique...?

-- 
Matthew Smart
matthewsmart@...
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--- End forwarded message ---