[Harp-L] Equal Temperament Tuning-- why I don't play chords (?)

["John F. Potts" <hvyj@xxxxxxx>]

Dave,
	I happen to think that the most limiting aspect of a Richter tuned  
diatonic harmonica is NOT the lack of a complete chromatic scale, but  
rather it is the inability to "build" chords.  Sure, a technically  
proficient player can sometimes flat one of the notes in a chord, but  
basically we are stuck with the chords the instrument gives us--and  
these chords don't necessarily work very well with all material.  My  
solution? I don't usually play chords.  Instead, i play tongue split  
intervals or double stops with my tongue blocking the middle holes  
and playing 2 notes out of the corners of my mouth.  This creates a  
very big or fat sound which actually sounds like a chord because the  
differential tones produced create a "ghost" note.  This phenomenon  
is most pronounced when playing octave stops, but is present with all  
split intervals.  The chord like sound produced is rich and  blends  
well with a much wider variety of material than the chords available  
on the instrument, so i am able to handle a wider variety of  
material.  The sound produced is deep and fat, and this sounds good  
and  works in different positions even when the chords on the  
instrument don't.
	I play equal tuned harps because I am more of a single note player  
and i play in different positions.  BUT, when I do split intervals it  
sounds sweet and very chord like because of the differential tones or  
ghost notes that are produced and I almost always seem to stay in  
harmony with the tune. (Octave stops are perhaps not so sweet or  
harmonic but are very powerful.) Other than deliberately playing  
octaves sometimes, I'm not really technical about the particular  
intervals I'm playing.  I more or less do it by ear, but it works.   
In fact, it works better than playing the available chords on the  
instrument AND it works in different positions AND it works very well  
on an equal temperament harp. Of course, I still play a chord or  
chords every now and then, for example, if I'm playing "High Heeled  
Sneakers."  But for the most part i do split intervals instead. I  
think not playing chords regularly and instead playing split  
intervals has significantly improved my playing and broadened the  
range of material I can handle.
	Btw, although I am able to tongue block  and occasionally do, I am  
not primarily a tongue blocker.  But i frequently shift to tongue  
blocking to play split intervals instead of chords. I suppose this  
makes me a mixed embouchure player.
	Anyway, I'm not really sure why playing split intervals instead of  
chords works so well, but in my experience, it does. Perhaps some of  
you with more technical knowledge can tell me why this is so.

	JP