Re: [Harp-L] Theater orchestra work just completed, report on experience

[michael rubin <michaelrubinharmonica@xxxxxxxxx>]

I am good at transposing because when I wanted to learn to play in any
key on both diatonic and chromatic, I took every song I learned and
turned it into numbers based on the major scales.  For example, in the
key of C, C is 1 D is 2.  In the key of E, E is 1, F# is 2. Then I
played every song in all 12 keys.   It taught me a lot.

In this situation,  I knew I had to find the E note on my B chromatic.
 In the key of B, E is the 4th note.  I compared it to my C harmonica.
 In the key of C, F is the 4th note.  If I could find the hole where F
is on my C chrome, E would be there on my B chrome.  2 draw is F on a
C chrome.  2 draw on an B chrome is therefore E.

The song was in E.  I know my C chrome layout well.  If I could just
think about transposing the song to the key of F on a C harp, then I
could play the same holes on the B harp and play in the key of E.

Since the song was written in the key of E, let's say the first two
notes were E then F#, the first and second notes in the E major scale.
 I needed to find the first and second notes of the F major scale on a
C chrome.  F and G.  2 draw and 3 blow.  When I play that on the B
chrome, I get E and F#.

Hopefully that helps.
Michael Rubin
Michaelrubinharmonica.com

On Mon, Feb 28, 2011 at 11:36 AM, Chesper Nevins
<chespernevins@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> Great write-up Michael.  Very interesting.
>
> I think you explained this, but I'm curious to have you clarify.  How
> did you end up transposing the E Major stuff for a B chrom?  The notes
> would be in a different place on the B chrom than on the C.  Did you
> mentally transpose up a half step to F and then pretend you were
> playing a C chrom?
>
>>The chromatic had lots of melodies and harmonies,
> but one piece called for an E chromatic.  It was written in concert C
> in the key of E.  4 sharps, lots of button in and out on a C chrome.
> No button work on an E chrome.  However, I do not own an E chrome and
> did not want to spend $150 for one gig.  I worked hard to do it on a C
> harp and could do it but it was inconsistent.  I remembered I bought a
> B chromatic because I thought some tricky songs could be made easier
> if place one half step off, kind of like a guitarist tuning down one
> half step.  It paid off!  Now the song was as if in the key of F on a
> key harp, only one flat.  It saved me.
>
> --
> http://myspace.com/jasonharmonica
> http://lulu.com/primacy
> co-author, "Primacy of the Ear" by Ran Blake with Jason Rogers
>