[Harp-L] Harmonica and Sheet-Music [Updated]

["Harmonicology [Neil Ashby]" <harmonicology@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Phil:

Also: You wrote that "Mel Bay -- use the treble clef (G clef) starting on 4 hole blow"; I have not seen those books but think that you might be referring to a "C-Clef" which is adjustably positioned to indicate the "C" note however the staff is used.

That adjustable "C-Clef" technique would work for those particular books but is not the usual convention for musical score of popular tunes.

/Neil Ashby (" http://thebuskingproject.com/busker/2025/ ")

On â5â/â20â/â2014 at 11:12 AM, philharpn@xxxxxxx wrote:
>
>Increasing the low-end range of a harmonica by switching to a 
>lower key is a technique that has been used before. The only 
>problem is dealing with that pesky F#. A valve* on draw 7 would 
>allow a blow bend on blow 7 down to F. 
>
>
>If this shift to the G harmonica to make music reading for 
>beginners* takes a stretch in assuming the beginners* know how to 
>bend. Also, draw 7 doesn't bend (unless you count the mythical 
>quarter tone) because the blow-draw notes are adjacent; there is 
>no half-step between them. 
>
>
>This problem has already been solved in some Mel Bay books. Maybe 
>other brands do this, too. Those familiar with this series of 
>books is already dealing with blow 4 as the starting C. For the 
>majority of richter players who don't read music, don't want to 
>learn and don't care; this issue is moot. 
>
>
>Many basic harmonica instruction books -- Mel Bay -- use the 
>treble clef (G clef) starting on 4 hole blow, thus firmly placing 
>holes 4 - 7 and above on the five-line staff. Even though notation 
>should start at the third space C. 
>
>
>This means that Middle C is 4 hole blow under this construction.
>
>
>This construction solves two problems for beginners: most of the 
>useful notes fit on the staff and the "troublesome" first octave 
>with its "missing notes" is avoided.
>
>
>If the first octave is used, it is rendered with leger lines 
>indicating the notes are below middle C or in the bass clef.
>
>
>On the other hand, chromatic harmonicas do not have this problem 
>of "missing notes" so that books dealing with music reading for 
>the chrome start with middle C on blow 1. I own a series of books 
>that use this convention. 
>
>
>Now whether the low octave is actually below middle C on the 16 
>hole, and that some C chromes start with the G below middle C 
>(orchestra tuning?) is another issue.
>
>
>This a useful technique (G harp sub for C) for advanced players 
>who read music. And advanced players who don't read but are aware 
>of that F# and have the techniques to deal with it.
>But I think it is over the heads of most beginners.
>
>
>Phil
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>-----Original Message-----
>From: Harmonicology [Neil Ashby] <harmonicology@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
>To: harp-l <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
>Sent: Tue, May 20, 2014 9:30 am
>Subject: [Harp-L] Harmonica and Sheet-Music [Updated]
>
>
>One useful trick[*] for learning to use real musical score with 
>the diatonic 
>harmonica is to switch to the "G-Major" (G3) tuned harmonica; the 
>central octave 
>of the standard "C" tuned harmonica starts at the high part of the 
>treble clef 
>and makes using of most musical score somewhat more difficult for 
>beginners; the 
>central octave of the "G3" tuned harmonica starts conveniently 
>near the bottom 
>of the treble clef.
>
>After sufficient practice according to musical score with the "G" 
>tuned 
>harmonica then the performer can easily switch to any other key of 
>harmonica and 
>use the same musical score and the same patterns (as though 
>playing on the "G" 
>tuned harmonica) via listening for the melody and intervals 
>instead of the exact 
>frequencies of the various notes.
>
>Many popular tunes are scored in "G" using of the "F#" which is 
>normally at 
>7-draw on the "G" harmonica, but would the "F" be natural on the 
>score then the 
>performer can bend the 7-draw to near the lower semi-tone; on the 
>"C" harmonica 
>that would be similar to bending to near the "Bb" at 7-draw.
>
>With use of a valve on 7-blow hole then the 7-draw can be fully 
>bent, but on an 
>instruments without the valve on 7-blow then the draw bent note 
>might just reach 
>80% close to the lower semi-tone [around 20 cents higher]; that 
>difference is 
>acceptable in many situations; I have often used of the 7-draw 
>bent to near "Bb" 
>in "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" and have not heard any complaints.
>
>[*]This trick is primarily for performing in the first-position; 
>in fact, many 
>first-position performers should be learning on the "G-Major" 
>harmonica instead 
>of the "C-Major".
>
>/Neil Ashby (" http://thebuskingproject.com/busker/2025/ ")