|
Dirty-South Blues Harp forum: wail on! >
What octave do my harmonicas match on a piano?
What octave do my harmonicas match on a piano?
Page:
1
Mirco
191 posts
Aug 30, 2014
8:07 PM
|
If I have a set of harmonicas with standard tuning, in what piano octave do they fall? Which harmonicas are the highest and which are the lowest? (standard tuning, not the "low" harmonicas)
It seems to me that a G is the lowest standard harmonica, and that an F is the highest (which would indicate that they don't all fall into the same octave on a piano). I think. Because the octaves on a piano are measured from C to C, right?
|
STME58
1050 posts
Aug 30, 2014
8:58 PM
|
The Hohner site shows the tunings with octave numbers. C4 is middle C. Your description of the standard keys going from G to F is correct.
Last Edited by STME58 on Aug 30, 2014 10:00 PM
|
Mirco
196 posts
Aug 31, 2014
10:29 AM
|
So, harmonica from C up to F would be on the fourth octave. Harmonicas from B down to G would be on the third octave.
When someone buys "low" harmonicas, is it just an octave lower than the standard? So a low C would be a C3? And a low A would be a A2?
|
nacoran
7975 posts
Aug 31, 2014
12:03 PM
|
F# is usually higher than your F harp too. Low harps start one octave lower than normal harps and start with the low F#. You are correct. G is the lowest 'regular' harp.
There are superlow/double low harps too, but commercially they only come in LLF and LLF#. I've heard a custom tuned all the way down to LLD. These are the keys and the note they start. I think you can get the full range of keys from Hohner and Seydel.
I think Lee Oskar only goes down to LF. Not sure on Suzuki. All bets are off on minor tuned harps though, because Lee Oskar labels them differently which makes things all kinds of confusing. (I think this chart is correct).
LLD-D2 (Only ever heard 1, and it was a custom)
LLF-F2
LLF#-F#2
LG-G2
LAb-Ab2
LA-A2
LBb-Bb2
LB-B2
LC-C3
LDb-Db3 (occasionally called C#)
LD-D3
LEb-Eb3
LE-E3
LF-F3
LF#-F#3 (occasionally called Gb)
G-G3
Ab-Ab3
A-A3
Bb-Bb3
B-B3
C-C4
Db-Db4 (occasionally called C#)
D-D4
Eb-Eb4
E-E4
F-F4
F#-F#4 (occasionally called Gb)
HG-G4
HAb-Ab4
HA-A4
There are only a few players, in my opinion, who sound good on the high harps. It's an art form unto itself. (Our own Todd P. is one of those guys). Low harps on the other hand, for simple stuff sound pretty awesome in anyones hands (again, in my opinion). They don't bend as easily though and respond pretty slow.
Now, as to why our octave range is different than the piano, well the piano focuses on C because it's the key with all white keys, the simplest key to play. (I have no idea why they chose to call that one C though). If I had to guess why our standard harps start with G I'd guess it's because F and F# are really risking getting into the dog whistle range unless handled with care (which is why I think, every major brand also sells the low version). On the other end, the lower you get, the harder it gets to cut through the mix, especially if you are sitting around unplugged just jamming with friends. One thing I've discovered reading music theory is that while there is a unified theory that holds how we name things together each instrument group then renames things for their own convenience.
German's even have a key of H. :)
----------
Nate
Facebook
Thread Organizer (A list of all sorts of useful threads)
First Post- May 8, 2009
|
Mirco
197 posts
Aug 31, 2014
5:54 PM
|
Thanks. That was a lot to type up.
|
Post a Message
|
