RE: [Harp-L] Bass harp layout

["Tinus" <tinus@xxxxxxx>]

When you play bass the most common interval you play is a perfect fifth.
Each of the perfect fifths can be played on either the bottom or the top
of the bass without the need to switch.

The B to F# can be played on the top only if the B is there. If you take
the B out and put an extra B# in there then you have to switch decks to
play that fith.

This also has a big impact on playing triads. With the B on the top deck
all the triads you can play follow just a few simple patterns when the B
becomes a B# that changes dramatically.

The susuki basses have a C in the upper deck, which is a major reason
why bassplayers don't play on them. I have a susuki bass and I retuned
the C's in the upperdeck down to B.

Tinus
http://www.overblow.com
http://www.tenhole.com
> 
> I've recently purchased a bass harp.  It is two harps, on on 
> top of the other.
>   The bottom harp is all white notes, two octaves starting on E.  
>   The top harp is strange.
>   F F# G# A# B C# D# F F# G# A# B C# D#
>    
>   I understand that F can be considered E#, so that note 
> makes sense.  WHY do they have the note B?  C would make 
> sense, as it is B#.  I suppose B is Cb, but then they should 
> have E instead of F.
>