[Harp-L] Re: Playing chromatically on a diatonic harp?

[Roger Myerson <myerson@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I agree, 5 holes per octave may seem excessive at first.  But it is 
necessary if you want a diatonic harmonica tuning that has these good 
melodic properties:
(1) all twelve notes in the chromatic scale are playable as straight 
blows or draws or as draw bends, without overblowing;
(2) the notes always get higher as we move from left to right and from 
blow to draw (no back and forth);
(3) at least one major key can be played without any bends.
It is impossible to design a tuning that has these three good properties 
with fewer than 5 holes per octave.  For a short proof of this basic 
fact, you might look at the "Shorter Derivation" at
http://4keyharps.wordpress.com/

Of course, five holes on a diatonic are not really so much wider than 
three holes on a chromatic.
-Roger

On 4/19/2011 8:25 AM, sheltraw@xxxxxxxxxxxx wrote:
> Date: Mon, 18 Apr 2011 19:59:07 -0700
> From:sheltraw@xxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: Re: [Harp-L] Playing chromatically on a diatonic harp?
>
> I don't play diatonics. I have only pondered which tuning I might choose
> if I did. I started playing harp about 1 year ago and have played only
> the augmented tuned chromatic harp. I get an octave in three holes! An
> octave in 5 holes seems kind'a excessive.