Re: [Harp-L] 4th position--add 2 Melody Maker

[Philharpn@xxxxxxx]

As long as we're talking about altered tunings, why not consider the Lee 
Oskar Melody Maker? Works right out of the box, no fuss, no muss.

While it is beneficial to be proficient in a variety of positions, the real 
issue is playing a tune. 

How does the tune lie on the harp position? Obviously, some positions are not 
only easier than others but they sound better because the timbre of the 
position sounds better.   

If a positions requires bent or overblow/overdraw notes in crucial spots -- 
say a held (long) note; it might be better to pick another position that lends 
itself better to the tune. 

All this talk about playing a tune in A minor in second position suggests a 
couple of solutions not so far mentioned in this discussion.

On the C harp, you can play A minor in 1st position because it is the 
relative minor of C major (the harp key). As  mentioned, the A minor scale is the 
same as the C major scale. The only difference is the A minor scale starts on the 
6th note of the C scale (the A note). So instead of playing a C scale from C 
to C, you play the same notes from A to A. In second position on a Richter 
harp this does require the a 2 step bend to get the A in the first octave.

But this puts the tune in 1st position -- which may or may not provide the 
desired "tone" or "feeling."

If 2nd position is the preferred "sound," another option is the Lee Oskar 
Melody Maker. The Melody Maker is labeled in second position. So to play the A 
minor tune in second position you need a MM labeled in the key of C (which would 
otherwise be called an F Richter harp) -- and you have to be a half-step on 2 
Draw if you want the note B.

Hope this helps.
Phil


 







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