From: Michael Will Date: Sat, 07 Sep 1996 16:26:25 -0700 Subject: Natural Minor Harps--Icky Theory Stuff...
Natural Minor harp tunings are quite interesting apart from playing in the basic natural minor key. Here the layout of the G natural minor harp, which, as Lee Oskar does, is labeled in 2nd position, so uses a harp with C as blow 1.
Hole: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Draw: D G Bb D F A Bb D F A ' Db Gb A Db E Ab '' F Ab Bb '' ''' E B Gb B ' Blow: C Eb G C Eb G C Eb G C
(As usual, + means blow, nothing means draw, and each tic (') means a semitone bend.)
Even in the natural minor position (2 draw) you can play a blues scale: (G Bb C Db D F G) 2 3' 3 4+ 4' 4 5 6+.
And in 1st position, you have a blues scale as well: (C Eb F Gb G Bb C) 1+ 2+ 2'' 2' 2 3 4+, and 7+ 8+ 9 9' 9+ 10+'' 10+.
Now look at what Lee Oskar calls 3rd position (thanks Lee.. even more confusion) starting on the 3 draw. You have a complete major scale from 3 draw to 7 draw: 3 4+ 4 5+ 5 6+ 6 7. The blues scale is also there: (Bb Db Eb E F Ab Bb) 3 4' 5+ 5' 5 6' 7. In fact, the only chromatic note missing is F#! the augmented 5th--not used much anywhere, especially blues.
This is an interesting scale pattern layout, because it starts on a draw and has lots of useful bends, and the associated expressive techniques that accompaly them. Octaves are available on both blow and draw.
Looking at chords, the blow triads are all Cm. But the draw chords include Gm, Bb, and BbMaj7! The Maj7 chord is the one that the Lee Oskar Melody Maker is built on. So the natural minor tuning can do much of what the Melody Maker does!
I've updated my "Harp Theory Layout" program for JavaScript browsers (http://wj.net/mic-l/Harpscript.htm) to include the Natural Minor layout. Use positions other than 1, 2, or 3 at your own risk right now.....
