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

[Richard Hunter <turtlehill@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Paul Bowering wrote:
<What other split intervals are you using?

The question of what a particular player likes aside, many players can fit a double octave (blow 1 to blow 8 or blow 2 to blow 9) in their mouths, and any interval in between, if they practice it.

That means an assortment of 10ths (3rd transposed up octave), 11ths (4th transposed up an octave), 12th, (5th transposed up an octave), and 13ths (6th transposed up an octave) are available.

If you add in alternate tunings like Natural minor or the "triple drone" tunings that James Conway has created, you get even more voicings to play with.
 
This stuff is neither rocket science nor Olympic level gymnastics, but it's not the way most players think about the diatonic harp.  If you think of the harp as a single-note instrument, or as something where the notes you play have to be side by side, then you don't think about what you could do if you opened up your mouth and put your tongue between the end notes.

With a little practice, you get some very beautiful sounds from these wide intervals, and they work especially well for accompanying other instruments.  Some of the players on this list have asked "how do I get a sound like a Hammond organ?"  Well...

Regards, Richard Hunter
latest mp3s and harmonica blog at http://myspace.com/richardhunterharp