Re: [Harp-L] B-Bb-Dm

[Philharpn@xxxxxxx]

Get out your Circle of Fifths that includes the relative minors in an inner 
circle:

One way to solve this is by using the 1st & 2nd Positions of the diatonic 
harmonica using the Circle of Fifths and going to the relative minors of those 
"positions."   Which means simply using the same notes, but starting on the 6th 
note of the major scale to play the relative minor scale.

Dm is the relative minor of F on the C harp. F is 12th Position.   Same notes 
as key of C plus Bb.
On a Bb harp the key of F would be 2nd position and Dm uses the same notes as 
key of F starting on the note D.
So here -- Dm -- you want to play your Dm in 12th position or 2nd. On C harp 
it is 12th; on Bb it is 2nd.


The C harp will indeed play in Am (A minor) because the A minor scale is 
simply the C scale, but starting on the A instead of the C.
C D E F G A B C 
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
                 a b c d e f g a

The relative minor of C is based on the 6th note: the A.

So by play the key of C and the key of A minor on a C harp you are merely 
playing the same notes.


G on a C harp is second position. The 6th note of the G scale is E. The 
relative minor of G is E minor. So using the same notes of the G scale, you get an 
E minor scale starting with the E.
G A B C D E F# G
1 2 3 4 5 6 7   8
                 e f# g a b c d e




This may be a mite confusing because the positions I'm pointing to yield a 
major scale.

However, if you want a D dorian mode, this is 3rd position and different 
animal.

If all this is confusing, get yourself a copy of the "C Harmonica Book" by 
James Major published by Mel Bay.   At a list price of $7.95, it is the best 8 
bucks you ever spent and will explain everything I talked about above and give 
you a FREE Circle of Fifths and give you graphic illustrations of the main 
positions 1-6 and 12th. (There are 12 books, one for each key. Probably the 
greatest reference set since Steve Baker's "The Harp Handbook.")
 
Hope this helps.
Phil Lloyd






In a message dated 4/5/08 12:22:57 AM, evedock@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx writes:

> Yes, Azul Para Ampero is Am.  If I recall correctly from the Melbay 
> instructional called Power Harp, (can't think of the mans name who did it for 
> Melbay, only Charlie's name who guested on the instructional), I believe they 
> played a C harp on an Em tune that was related to Am also. At least that is how I 
> understood it. 
> 
> So... My thinking is that if a C harp can play Am and Em, then a Bb must be 
> the right harp for Dm.  Oh Lord how I wish I could understand all the 
> musical shop talk of the  people who really understand the nuts and bolts of music 
> theory and so forth. 
> 
> I just don't have the mental capacity for it.   But I am a very serious 
> player and I try to be as musical and emotional as I can be using a harmonica as 
> a means of musical expression. I have a lot of practice ahead of me for this 
> original musical and will dig into my harmonicas and find what I need to the 
> best of my ability. 
> 
> I'll be doing a pile of harp switching to find the best tone for each chord 
> change and try to give expression and emotion to the singers words.  ....and 
> I'll be helping with costume and set design and silk screening t-shirts and 
> posters.  Ain't the arts something wonderful!!       
> 
> Ed, 70 miles east of Pittsburgh, PA and 180 miles from my favorite Erie 
> steelhead streams.
> 
> 




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