[Harp-L] Re: Which Hole Number?

[Jonathan Metts <jonathan@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

"That's probably because Sax's players need to have the scale in mind 
all the time, not like in our case that is, we can easily grab the right 
harp key."

That's not really true.  It's not like a C harp just automatically plays 
in the key of C with no effort.  In fact, you are most likely playing it 
in G, right?  And in order to play that C harp in G, you have to play 
certain holes in a certain way.  You are probably playing in and around 
the pentatonic scale, or if in 1st position, the major scale, even 
though you may not know every note of these scales.

The assumption that diatonic harps are easy to play in key is a common 
mistake among beginners.  Even a diatonic harp is effectively a 
chromatic instrument that can be played in any key.  Some are easier 
than others, but there is nothing magical about the instrument that 
keeps us in the proper key.  That is an acquired skill based on 
familiarity with the instrument, good pitch hearing, and/or musical 
knowledge.

My point is that there is no fundamental difference between sax and harp 
in terms of one or the other always being in the right key or not 
requiring any knowledge of scales.  You are doing the same thing as your 
sax player friend... you just don't know as much about it.  And it is 
definitely worth learning more about what you are doing.  Not only will 
this help you to do it better and more creatively, but it will also lead 
you to try other things that you aren't currently attempting.

Jonathan Metts