RE: [Harp-L] What key harp for Country and for Minor?

["Michael Peloquin" <peloquinharp@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

> From: "Paul F. Sehorne" <paul@xxxxxxxxxxx>

>    * What key in Natural Minor tuning would I get the most use from?  It 
> is my understanding that 2nd position minor is the primary targeted usage 
> of this tuning; so let's refer to the minor key that would be considered 
> 2nd position.

I find that most minor keyed blues/rock/pop tunes tend to be in A, C & D 
minors.
Jazz: C, F, Bb minors

>    * Should I invest in Country tuning or Melody Maker tuning?  I 
> understand that these name of these tunings and how the key is specified 
> may vary from manufacturer to manufacturer. The County tuning I am 
> referring to is different from a standard major diatonic only in that the 5 
> and 9 draw are a semi-tone sharper, proving a Major 7 instead of Dominant 
> 7th in 2nd position.  The Melody Maker tuning I am referring to is the same 
> as Country tuning in that it had blow 3 one full step higher.

Try everything. I admire your knowledge and attention to music and theory.

> On a C harp, for example, blow 3 would be A instead of G.  This has the 
> disadvantage that you could only get the Ab by overblowing.  Overblowing is 
> not something that I plan on getting into at this early stage - not so much 
> because of the challenge of the technique, but because I understand it is 
> likely that I would have little success with out-of-the box harps.

I think that this is a myth. Howard Levy, Adam Gussow, Mike Turk, me and a 
few others were successfully incorporating OB's on OOTB harps for years 
before becoming custum harp addicts. (My name is Michael and I have a 
Filisko problem!)

>    * What key in Country tuning or Melody Maker (depending upon the 
> concensus to the question above) would I get the most use from?  Again, it 
> is my understanding that they primary usage of this tuning is 2nd position; 
> so let's once again refer to the 2nd position tuning in referring to the 
> key of the harp.
C, G, A, D, E (key of songs)


Michael Peloquin
http://tinyurl.com/5tpjg
http://www.harpsax.com