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

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

Phil:

Having just read your credentials then I am particularly pleased by your comment "This a useful technique (G harp sub for C) for advanced players [...]".

Does your comment indicate that Mel Bay and other publishers should include the standard notation indicating that the music is to be performed one octave higher than written ["8va"]?

/Neil

On â5â/â21â/â2014 at 11:17 AM, philharpn@xxxxxxx wrote:
>
>So the bottom line is that the C clef really, actually and 
>basically has no bearing on the harmonica. That's what I meant 
>with the expression: "I have no idea what a C clef is or how it 
>might relate to the harmonica." It was a throwaway line. 
>
>
>The whole issue involved the Mel Bay practice of using the treble 
>clef with middle C starting on hole No 4. The Mel Bay books ALSO 
>include arrow and number tab below the music notation so harmonica 
>players can play the songs by note or number. Because the MelBay 
>
>
>For those who had never seen this concept, my regrets. But I have 
>taught my Harmonica 101 class for the past 20 years with a Phil 
>Duncan book that does exactly that. Duncan has many other basic 
>and entry level diatonic books -- including Stephen Foster Songs --
> that use the system. You an Teach Yourself Harmonica by George 
>Heaps-Nelson and Barbara McClintock Koehler also uses it.
>
>
>Also, Bill Bay or William Bay (Mel Bay's son) uses that system in 
>Fun with the Harmonica and easiest Harmonica Book uses.
>
>
>David Barrett, a Mel Bay author who focuses mostly on blues, uses 
>that system in Youth Harmonica Method. However, just about every 
>other book Barrett has written uses blow 1 as C.
>
>
>To me it makes perfect sense. It is a lot easier for people just 
>starting to read music on the richter harmonica to ignored the 
>first octave with its missing F and A notes and get right to the 
>full diatonic octave starting on hole 4. 
>
>
>Solo tuned chromatic harmonicas have full octaves, so it makes 
>perfect sense to start with blow 1 as middle C. And I think most 
>of them do. I must have about 10 chromatic books in my archive but 
>I haven't checked them lately.
>
>
>Thanks to Vern for pointing out that the C clef is not totally 
>worthless for orchestra players -- just to harmonica players.
>
>
>The Mel Bay idea is to place holes 4-7 (the C scale on the C 
>richter) squarely on the five lines of the treble staff and the 
>leger line below it: C. (And as everyone knows, this tab can be 
>played by any richter major key harmonica by simply following the 
>numbers and ignoring the notes.)
>
>
>Hope this clears this up. 
>
>
>Phil
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Vern <jevern@xxxxxxx>
>To: philharpn <philharpn@xxxxxxx>
>Cc: harp-l <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>; harmonicology 
><harmonicology@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
>Sent: Wed, May 21, 2014 12:59 am
>Subject: Re: [Harp-L] Harmonica and Sheet-Music [Updated]
>
>
> The C-clef looks like  |B.  The center between the two loops 
>designates the 
>line of the staff that is C.  Cello, bassoon, and some other 
>orchestra 
>instruments sometimes use it.
>
>The choice of clef for a given instrument is usually made to place 
>the middle of 
>the instrumentâs range near the middle of the staff.   This 
>minimizes the number 
>of notes on ledger lines above and below the staff to facilitate 
>reading.  For 
>example, the G and F clefs of the double staff place the middle C 
>of the piano 
>keyboard exactly half way between the two staffs.  
>
>The âtrebleâ or âGâ clef is suitable for the C chromatic because 
>it places C4 
>(Hole 1 blow on a 12-holer) one line below the staff and C6 (hole  
>9 blow) only 
>two lines above the staff. Most of the music that you will 
>encounter is written 
>with the piano in mind. 
>
>When the melody goes into the upper octaves, the sheet music will 
>often be 
>written an octave lower with an 8va sign to indicate that it is to 
>be played an 
>octave above where it is written.   Low passages are often written 
>an octave 
>higher than they are to be played with an 8vb sign.  This is where 
>having all 
>octaves of a chromatic layed out the same is very helpful. 
>Everything after the 
>8va sign is played an octave higher than written until a âlocoâ 
>sign appears.
>
>You need to know what a C clef is only if you wish to play written 
>music that 
>uses it.  
>
>Vern 
>
>On May 20, 2014, at 1:21 PM, philharpn@xxxxxxx wrote:
>> 
>> ââ...I really have no idea what a C clef is or how it might 
>relate to the 
>harmonicaââ...
>> 
>> Phil
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>>