[Harp-L] Re: Minor and Harmonic Minor Harps

[MilwHarmonica@xxxxxxx]

Hello, Steve.
 
Here's more information about minor key and harmonic minor key 10-hole  
diatonic harmonicas. Minor scales  may be found in many locations  ("positions") on 
your 10-hole diatonic harp, depending on which harp you choose. 
 
1. The natural minor is "built into" its relative major key  harmonica, in 
what is known as 4th position.  "Relative" keys are  music scales that use the 
same key signature (example: A natural minor is the  relative of C major, 
because they both use the same key signature, no flats, no  sharps).
 
Use any brand major-scale 10-hole C harp, play starting on hole 6  draw, and 
end on hole 10 draw. Small letters, draw notes, Large letters , blow  notes. ( 
a, b, C, d, E, f, G, a). In this location on your harp, no bending or  
overblowing techniques are needed. You may also use the same C harp, and  starting 
at hole 3, bend the draw note B, down a whole step to A, then continue  the 
scale through hole 6 draw. You could call 4th position on your C  harp the A 
natural minor draw scale, because it starts and ends on a draw  note. 
In the above ANM draw scales, the A minor chord isn't available.
 
2. If you use a Lee Oskar Melody Maker, the C harp will do. Start on hole 5  
blow, play though hole 8 blow (A, b, C, d, e, F, g, A).  Notice that the  
spelling of the A natural minor scale is the same as on the regular 
C major harmonica, but the scale starts in a different hole. You may also  
start the scale at hole 2 blow, bending the C note a half step down to B, and  
continuing on in the scale to hole 5 blow  (A, b, c, D, e, F, g, A). This  is 
an A natural minor blow scale, because it starts and ends on a blow  note.
In the above A NM blow scales, the A minor chord isn't available.
 
3. You may also purchase a Lee Oskar A Natural Minor harmonica in first  
position (A Natural Minor blow scale). In the Lee Oskar Natural Minor  harps, use 
the harmonica marked A Natural Minor, not C major. The A natural  minor scale 
is started in hole 6 blow, through hole 9 blow (A, b, c, D, e, F, g,  A).  The 
A minor chord isn't available here.
 
You may also start the ANM scale in hole 2, draw, bending the C of hole 3  
down to a B note, then back to a C note, and continue playing through hole 6  
blow. This is an A NM blow scale, with the A minor chord available..
 
4. You could also try the Lee Oskar E natural minor harp. All of the blow  
notes are in the A minor chord. Hole 1 blow is A. The scale requires some  
bending in places.
 
5. To make it easier to understand, try the harmonica brands that label  
their harps in fist position, where hole 1 blow is A, and the harmonica is  
labeled A minor, A natural minor, etc. Most of the major harmonica companies  label 
their harmonicas this way. Example: if you want to play a Hohner Marine  Band 
in A natural minor, buy a harp labeled A NM, or A Natural Minor. These  harps 
have blow A natural minor scales, with the A minor chord.
 
5. The harmonic minor harmonicas are always labeled by the blow note of  hole 
1, and modified from the natural minor scale, with a raised 7th degree of  
the minor scale. Example: the A harmonic minor scale is:  A, b, C, d ,  E, f, 
g#, A.  Compare that with the A minor scale spelling above.
 
6. Your selection of which brand and model to use should depend on how you  
will use the scale position, on which scale position is easiest for you to 
play,  and on which scale position sounds the best to you.
 
John Broecker
 



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