[Harp-L] Circle of Fifths (Circle of Fourths) and Positions
It is fairly easy to create a Circle of Fifths tool. I've done it, and several people
have found it helpful. It is two concentric wheels, containing a lot of relevant music
theory and positions and modes and chord notes. You print the two wheels on card stock,
cut them out and fasten them together using an eyelet.
If you want a copy, please send me a private email message requesting it. Email =
robertpcoble AT hotmail DOT com. (Substitute "@" for "AT" and "." for "DOT".)
CIRCLE OF FIFTHS:
The Circle of Fifths (in the clockwise direction) is a relationship of fifths.
Given a reference note/key, the next note/key clockwise has a fifth relationship.
Example: Key of F scale degrees
* *
Note: F - G - A - Bb- C - D - E - F
Scale Degree: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8
On the Circle of Fifths, going clockwise, the interval from F to C is a fifth.
Example: Key of C scale degrees
* *
Note: C - D - E - F - G - A - B - C
Scale Degree: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8
On the Circle of Fifths, going clockwise, the interval from C to G is a fifth.
Example: Key of G scale degrees
* *
Note: G - A - B - C - D - E - F#- G
Scale Degree: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8
On the Circle of Fifths, going clockwise, the interval from G to D is a fifth.
By continuing the relationships of fifths, eventually you will "circle" clockwise
around back to the starting note/key. You will end up with 12 note/keys in the "circle."
~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~
CIRCLE OF FOURTHS
The Circle of Fourths (in the COUNTER-clockwise direction) is a relationship of fourths.
Given a reference note/key, the next note/key COUNTER-clockwise has a FOURTH
relationship.
Example: Key of G scale degrees
* *
Note: G - A - B - C - D - E - F#- G
Scale Degree: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8
On the Circle of Fourths, going COUNTER-clockwise, the interval from G to C is a fourth.
Example: Key of C scale degrees
* *
Note: C - D - E - F - G - A - B - C
Scale Degree: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8
On the Circle of Fourths, going COUNTER-clockwise, the interval from C to F is a fourth.
Example: Key of F scale degrees
* *
Note: F - G - A - Bb- C - D - E - F
Scale Degree: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8
On the Circle of Fourths, going COUNTER-clockwise, the interval from F to Bb is a fourth.
By continuing the relationships of FOURTHS, eventually you will "circle"
COUNTER-clockwise around back to the starting note/key. You will end up with 12
note/keys in the "circle."
~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~
POSITIONS
Positions have been defined in different ways in the harmonica world over time, causing
considerable confusion. The currently accepted "standard" is based on a reference between
the key of the harmonica and the relative position on the Circle of Fifths.
Given the key of the harp, all positions are relative to that key, going clockwise around
the Circle of Fifths.
EXAMPLE: Harp key = F
1st position = F (Ionian mode; reference major scale)
2nd position = C (Mixolydian mode)
3rd position = G (Dorian mode)
4th position = D (Aeolian mode; also natural (relative) minor)
5th position = A (Phrygian mode)
6th position = E (Locrian mode)
7th position = B
8th position = F#/Gb
9th position = C#/Db
10th position = G#/Ab
11th position = Eb
12th position = Bb (Lydian mode)
EXAMPLE: Harp key = C
1st position = C (Ionian mode)
2nd position = G (Mixolydian mode)
3rd position = D (Dorian mode)
4th position = A (Aeolian mode; also natural (relative) minor)
5th position = E (Phrygian mode)
6th position = B (Locrian mode)
7th position = F#/Gb
8th position = C#/Db
9th position = G#/Ab
10th position = Eb
11th position = Bb
12th position = F (Lydian mode)
EXAMPLE: Harp key = G
1st position = G (Ionian mode)
2nd position = D (Mixolydian mode)
3rd position = A (Dorian mode)
4th position = E (Aeolian mode; also natural (relative) minor)
5th position = B (Phrygian mode)
6th position = F#/Gb (Locrian mode)
7th position = C#/Db
8th position = G#/Ab
9th position = Eb
10th position = Bb
11th position = F
12th position = C (Lydian mode)
~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~
MODES:
There are 7 named modes, associated with the 7 scale degrees within a specific major
scale. Each mode has a different "flavor" because of the intervals between specific
scale degrees.
Scale Degree Mode
1 Ionian (root of the major scale)
2 Dorian
3 Phrygian
4 Lydian
5 Mixolydian
6 Aeolian (root of the relative or natural minor scale)
7 Locrian
~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~
CONNECTING POSITIONS TO HOLES AND BREATH DIRECTIONS ON A HARP:
Given the key of the harp and the notes available on that harp, it is possible to
designate the root note for each position. The starting locations for each position are
identical for every harp, so once you have learned the starting locations on one harp,
you have learned them all. (The names of the notes change, obviously, but the relative
positions remain constant.)
IMPORTANT NOTE: The following examples are based on the standard diatonic harp with
"Richter" tuning. This does NOT necessarily apply to any other tuning. I also am
giving notes that are available naturally (without bending or overblowing), simply
because it is easier. You will have to fill in the "missing" notes yourself.
Example: Harp key = F
BLOW F - A - C - F - A - C - F - A - C - F
HOLE 01 - 02 - 03 - 04 - 05 - 06 - 07 - 08 - 09 - 10
DRAW G - C - E - G - Bb - D - E - G - Bb - D
Note: F - G - A - Bb- C - D - E - F
Scale Degree: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8
Starting holes for (root) notes:
1st position = Holes 1 blow, 4 blow, 7 blow
2nd position = Holes 1 draw, 4 draw, 8 draw
3rd position = Holes 2 blow, 5 blow, 8 blow
4th position = Holes 5 draw, 9 draw
5th position = Holes 3 blow, 6 blow, 9 blow
6th position = Holes 6 draw, 10 draw
7th position = Not available starting on a "natural" note
8th position = Not available starting on a "natural" note
9th position = Not available starting on a "natural" note
10th position = Not available starting on a "natural" note
11th position = Not available starting on a "natural" note
12th position = Holes 5 draw, 9 draw
Example: Harp key = C
BLOW C - E - G - C - E - G - C - E - G - C
HOLE 01 - 02 - 03 - 04 - 05 - 06 - 07 - 08 - 09 - 10
DRAW D - G - B - D - F - A - B - D - F - A
Note: C - D - E - F - G - A - B - C
Scale Degree: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8
Starting holes for (root) notes:
1st position = Holes 1 blow, 4 blow, 7 blow
2nd position = Holes 1 draw, 4 draw, 8 draw
3rd position = Holes 2 blow, 5 blow, 8 blow
4th position = Holes 5 draw, 9 draw
5th position = Holes 3 blow, 6 blow, 9 blow
6th position = Holes 6 draw, 10 draw
7th position = Not available starting on a "natural" note
8th position = Not available starting on a "natural" note
9th position = Not available starting on a "natural" note
10th position = Not available starting on a "natural" note
11th position = Not available starting on a "natural" note
12th position = Holes 5 draw, 9 draw
Example: Harp key = G
BLOW G - B - D - G - B - D - G - B - D - G
HOLE 01 - 02 - 03 - 04 - 05 - 06 - 07 - 08 - 09 - 10
DRAW A - D - F# - A - C - E - F# - A - C - E
Note: G - A - B - C - D - E - F#- G
Scale Degree: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8
Starting holes for (root) notes:
1st position = Holes 1 blow, 4 blow, 7 blow
2nd position = Holes 1 draw, 4 draw, 8 draw
3rd position = Holes 2 blow, 5 blow, 8 blow
4th position = Holes 5 draw, 9 draw
5th position = Holes 3 blow, 6 blow, 9 blow
6th position = Holes 6 draw, 10 draw
7th position = Not available starting on a "natural" note
8th position = Not available starting on a "natural" note
9th position = Not available starting on a "natural" note
10th position = Not available starting on a "natural" note
11th position = Not available starting on a "natural" note
12th position = Holes 5 draw, 9 draw
HTH,
Crazy Bob
This archive was generated by a fusion of
Pipermail 0.09 (Mailman edition) and
MHonArc 2.6.8.