Re: [Harp-L] naming positions with Spiral tuning

[Winslow Yerxa <winslowyerxa@xxxxxxxxx>]

Robert - 

Yes, if your spiral is tuned to a C major scale, then you can call C the key of the harmonica. That key will then be first position. Frem there you can name positions in the usual way, using the circle of fifths,, even though the action patterns to play in those positions will be different from a standard German Major-tuned diatonic. Again, positions are determined by the relations between key of harmonica and key played, not by anything else.

Of course, you have tonic chords for all seven notes of the scale, so you could potentially call it a D dorian harp, etc. But for simplicity of reference, I'd be inclined to call it a C spiral, and then name the positions from that basis. Why complicate things?

Which hole the tonic note occurs in has no bearing on the key of the harmonica. Some tremolo harmonicas in C, for instance, have the tonic note in Hole 3, with a Blow G and Draw D to the left. Others may have the tonic note in Hole 5, with Draw E and G, and Draw G and B, to the left. But the harp still plays a C major scale, so C is still the key of the harmonica and therefore first position.

Minor-tuned harmonicas pose some interesting questions. If you have a spiral harp tuned to A harmonic minor, then A is the obvious key from which to figure positions, as this scale is intended to be used in the key of A minor and differs from the C major scale.

However, natural minor tunings in standard note layouts, even though they contain a major scale, are clearly a modal alteration of standard tune, and therefore for convenience and familiarity are labeled in reference to the minor scale and minor chords. However, spiral tunings don't ape standard tuning, and as they contain seven different chords, six of which offer a stable potential tonic, they don't require labeling as minor even though they can be used to play in the minor modes using the given notes (i.e., as opposed to bends and overbends, which can alter the underlying scales).

Winslow
 
Winslow Yerxa
Author, Harmonica For Dummies, ISBN 978-0-470-33729-5
            Harmonica Basics For Dummies, ASIN B005KIYPFS
            Blues Harmonica For Dummies, ISBN 978-1-1182-5269-7
Resident Harmonica Expert, bluesharmonica.com
Instructor, Jazzschool for Music Study and Performance


________________________________
 From: Robert Hale <robert@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: Winslow Yerxa <winslowyerxa@xxxxxxxxx> 
Cc: harp-L list <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx> 
Sent: Friday, October 19, 2012 10:23 AM
Subject: Re: [Harp-L] naming positions with Spiral tuning
 

On Fri, Oct 19, 2012 at 5:32 AM, Winslow Yerxa <winslowyerxa@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

As always, positions are named by the relationship between the key of the harmonica and the key being played.

Hi Winslow, and thanks.

Is the key of any harp presumed to be all 8-tones of a Major scale, where ever they occur?

Could my Spiral harp be properly called C Major, because I play a C Major scale from draw 2 to Blow 6? (Same pattern as LO MM) and all the tones of the harp are members of the C Major scale?


Robert Hale
Spiral Advocate
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