Re: [Harp-L] Problem when playing harps not in C

[Robert Coble <robertpcoble@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Assumption: you are playing on a diatonic harmonica.

I know this is going to sound heretical, but my suggestion would be to re-think the notes as scale degrees, focusing on the intervallic relationships between the scale degrees rather than the specific pitch name.

As an obvious example (based on the so-called Richter Tuning):

Key of C harmonica:

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

ANY KEY (based on scale degrees) harmonica:

BLOW  1   3   5   1   3   5   1   3   5   1
HOLE 01  02  03  04  05  06  07  08  09  10
DRAW  2   5   7   2   4   6   7   2   4   6

I use Seydel Zirkular (Circular or Spiral Tuning) harmonicas exclusively. (Well,
almost exclusively: I have a couple of Lee Oskars that I retuned to Zirkular.)
I can switch from one key to another key for any song without any thought whatsoever.
The reason is that I play by ear and (somehow) "memorize" the RELATIVE location
of the notes in the melody. Once those relative positions are "learned" (memorized?),
it becomes a no brainer to switch keys of harmonica. For example, in "Somewhere Over
The Rainbow" there is an octave "jump" at the very beginning. Regardless of the key,
that octave jump remains the same. For a Zirkular harmonica, that's hole 2 draw to 
hole 6 blow. The relationship remains constant as far as the movement between holes
is concerned, regardless of the actual notes played in those holes.

HTH,
Crazy Bob