Re: [Harp-L] Circle of Fifths (Circle of Fourths) and Positions
Does anyone have a mnemonic they use to remember the Circle of Fifths?
Thank you,
Brad
On 12/13/13, 11:27 AM, "Robert Coble" <robertpcoble@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>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.