[Harp-L] Re: Very Low G on Diatonic Harp

[MilwHarmonica@xxxxxxx]

Hello, Bradford Trainham.
 
C.A. Seydel Sohne makes two, 10-hole diatonic Richter system models that  
start at the F below the bass clef: Blues Favorite, and Blues Session. They are  
stock items, not custom order. The 2 models are available in any major key  
from that double low F upward, through the standard keys. The double low F is  
the F just below the bass clef.
 
I have a double low F and a double low F# Blues Session. They sound like  fog 
horns. Each is the size of a standard 10-hole Richter system harp, about 4  
inches long. You must play very easy on these harps, or they may go out of  
tune. But the sound is full, an d beautiful, with no effort.
 
A double low G would be a half step above the tuning of the double low F# .  
That would make it about 1.5 octaves below middle C. The double low F models 
are  the lowest known stock models made by the major manufacturers. If you want 
a  10-hole diatonic lower than the double low F, it would be a custom job. 
Seydel  has told me that it isn't possible for them to make a 10-hole diatonic 
any lower  than the double low F.
 
If you want a harmonica lower than the double low F, you would try a 2-deck  
bass harmonica. The sounding range of the bass harp starts about an octave 
lower  than the double low F, or, two E's below the bass clef. 
 
The actual sounding range for the 2-octave bass harp model is E-E, the  
highest sounding note is the highest E of the bass clef. The bass harmonicas are  
usually written an octave above their actual pitch. That is, the written range  
of the bass harp starts on the E below the bass clef, and ends on the low E 
of  the treble clef. This is done to make it easier to read.
 
John Broecker



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