Re: [Harp-L] minor keys

["Steve Shaw" <moorcot@xxxxxxx>]

Unfortunately, harps are more than twice that price here.  Admittedly my 
music belongs to just one genre.  Lots of people have asked me about the Lee 
Oskar minor key harps for Irish music, and the response is that you simply 
don't need them in almost all cases as the tunes are modal rather than 
minor.  I was implying that you check that you really need them for the 
tunes you have in mind before splashing out.  I don't do chording in my 
tunes.  On my CD, apart from one tremolo tune I play just a G harp or a low 
D.  Among the tune selection there's a B Aeolian, an E Dorian (low D harp), 
an E Aeolian and an A Dorian (G harp).  I don't usually go around calling 
them modal as the guitar chaps regard them as minor tunes for their 
nefarious purposes.  Not one of these tunes would come out any better on a 
minor harp and there's no bending to get notes.   In addition there are five 
tunes in A Mixolydian, all played on the low D.   One of my favourite "A 
minor" tunes is Carolan's Welcome, and a C harp is far and away the best 
option.  All I was saying was check out that you haven't already got the 
right tool  before spending yer dosh.  Every other harp player may need a 
minor harp in his or her kit, but not me!

Steve

http://mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/trad_irish_harmonica
HEAR my CD clips: http://www.gjk2.com/steveshaw/cd.htm
READ review of my CD: http://www.irishmusicreview.com/sshaw.htm


> Steve Shaw wrote:
> <I'd try out the tunes on my G harp or C harp before splashing out on a
> <minor
> <key harp.  Am would be 3rd position on the G harp or 4th position on
> <the C.
> <As long as the notes you need are either there already or gettable why
> <spend
> <money!
>
> I respectfully beg to differ.  Natural Minor harps have a beautiful
> sound all their own.  The chording is amazing, and IMPOSSIBLE to do on a
> standard harp.  The single notes have deeper bends in certain places,
> like the draw 2 and 5 reeds, than a standard harp too.
>
> Granted that buying any harp you don't already own costs money.  It's
> about $20, give or take, for a Natural Minor harp; that's not a lot of
> money to pay for something that can really change your sound.  EVERY
> harp player should have a Natural Minor or two in his or her kit.  Play
> it just like you play the harps you already own, and prepare to be
> amazed at what comes out.

> Regards, Richard Hunter
> hunterharp.com