Post
by IaNerd » Fri Sep 08, 2017 4:53 pm
Re: “Are the reed pitches going up for a 3 octave range, as on a normal harp? If so, this one shouldn't be too hard to make.” (BP)
I was hoping someone would ask that question! The short answer is … maybe.
When I explore tunings, I usually start with something resembling second position G. Most of my posts are like this; it facilitates comparisons among tunings. Second position G, a.k.a. first position C, typically starts with the piano note C4 on the 1 blow reed. So a 10-hole “standard” Richter diatonic harp sports three octaves starting at C4 and ending with C7. That’s three complete octaves in C, but only two complete octaves in second position G, e.g. from G4 to G5, and then from G5 to G6 (plus a few more notes).
While I love the sound of the G5-G6 octave when played well, I personally don’t play well in that register. I could blame it on poor gapping, etc. but it’s really just poor technique on my part. “My bad” … literally.
So when I conceive tunings, I am sometimes biased to starting the 1 blow at C3, i.e. “LC”. You will see this in some of my postings. If I were to build the tuning of this post into, say, a Seydel Classic or Noble, I would probably have 1 blow be C3, 3 blow be G3, 6 blow be G4, and 10 draw be G5. I would also be specifying the Low versions of those models. So to answer Brendan’s question from this standpoint, the answer would be “yes”.
HOWEVER, I’ll bet that lots of folks noticed that, in my diagram above, I started the 1 blow at C4, and the 3 blow is at G4. Then there is a slightly mysterious gray band bisecting the left and right halves of the harp. And THEN the six blow is G4 AGAIN. This is reentrant tuning. So without actually saying so, the tuning in this diagram is actually intended for a harp body LIKE the Schaman Medical Harmonica.
It comes down to preferences. If you play well above G5 and want that sound, then it would be WAY cheaper and easier to have the pitches steadily ascending along all ten holes. But if you want the right-hand “solo/melodic” octave to be from G4-G5, then you have two options: (1) start the harp at “low” C3; or (2) base the harp on a comb and reedplates that permit reentrant tuning.
