[Harp-L] Straight natural minor

[John Kerkhoven]

I made myself a first position Am harp to play the Reel Béatrice, a
traditional Québécois reel. Here's the result:
https://www.facebook.com/john.kerkhoven.3/videos/1322198198783760

Harmonic minor harps are laid out in first position, but natural minor
harps sold off the shelf are  cross harp instruments, which is to say that
the natural minor finds its root on the 2-draw and 6-blow.

The Reel Béatrice is a reel in three parts, the first two of which are in
Am. I worked at it on a C major harp, G major and LO Am. Though leaning to
the G major, third position, I wasn't altogether happy with the results. I
found Bruno Kowalczyk's version of this tune on YouTube, which he plays on
a Lee Oskar Dm which he modified to play Am in first position. So I'm not
claiming to have made any sort of breakthrough discovery here, only to say
that for some purposes, such as traditional music, a minor harp in first
position can be a lot of fun.

Happy New Year!

John