[Harp-L] Pentatonic harp

["Clayton Gary Lehmann" <hqr@xxxxxxx>]

I am using the Magic Bop tuning--the chords are G and F.
Pentatonics are easy, and the tuning is the same in all of the octaves.
Every note of the chromatic scale except for the b6 is available either as a
"given" note or as a draw bend.
The tuning is identical to holes 3, 4, 5, and 6 of the Melody Maker.
Because it is four holes per octave, the range is less--but because there is
no shift in breath direction, more of the harp is usable (for me
anyway--some here may have mastery of holes 8, 9, and 10 but I don't!)
Gary
PS Here's a link where I am using a harp in this tuning to play Hotel
California while I play guitar
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UnfBz0oiH2k&feature=channel_page
You can hear some pentatonic runs starting about 1:50 . . .
Gary
PS The Newton Fourkey is actually tuned to two pentatonic scales--but the
chords are a half step apart.
G

-----Original Message-----
From: harp-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx [mailto:harp-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf
Of jim.alciere@xxxxxxxxx
Sent: Thursday, July 09, 2009 5:53 AM
To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [Harp-L] major pentatonic

I'm working on the Grateful Dead's China Cat Sunflower. The main chords are
G and F. It's a major penatonic with a flatted seventh (mixolodyian?).
Should I just deal with it in 2nd position on a standard diatonic and learn
how to bend accurately or should I try some fancy harp like a solo or a
Paddy Richter. I can play the melody easily in the middle of the harp, but
it's too high--sounds better on the first 3 holes. There's a tricky part
where the melody goes from F to A to G and I can do it, but the F and the A
are funky.

In my mind I can hear Sonny Terry doing this song, but translating this into
reality is a different story.

Of course the Dead being the Dead, the song modulates to A, then modulates
to E, the back to A, then to G. Good luck with that. Maybe I should get a
half valved harp.

Piano is so much easier.


-- 
Rainbow Jimmy
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1372404/dhoozh_chapter_1.html
http://www.myspace.com/theelectricstarlightspaceanimals
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