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Dirty-South Blues Harp forum: wail on! >
Why do some write it one way or the other ?
Why do some write it one way or the other ?
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msudvm97
1 post
Nov 21, 2014
6:53 AM
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I have seen the harp lay out 2 different ways:
Key of C
Blow C E C E
1 2 Compared to 1 2
Draw D G D G
1/2 step Draw bend C# F# Db Gb
Whole draw F F
I think the notes are the same : C# = Db , and F# = Gb
Why is it written in one form or the other ?
I was trying to memorize the first form, then I came across the second form
Thank you for your time
Steve
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SuperBee
2271 posts
Nov 21, 2014
7:11 AM
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It comes down to which scale you talk about I suppose. If you are thinking of key of G you would think of F# because it's the major 7th.
You would think of Db because it's the flat 5 rather than a sharp 4. If you were thinking key of C you would talk about Gb as the flat 5 and Db as a flat 9th most likely. . If we are thin king of key D then the f# is the 3rd and C# is major 7th...
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msudvm97
2 posts
Nov 21, 2014
8:12 AM
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Thank you for your reply.
I am a beginner and I figure I need to learn some basic notes. My harmonica is in the Key of C. Is there one set of notes (key) to lean first that is more commonly used ? I have to start somewhere ?
Thank you for your time
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Frank101
34 posts
Nov 21, 2014
8:22 AM
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Get "Harmonica Fpr Dummies". Don't be insulted by the title, it's a great book, written by harmonica expert Winslow Yerxa.
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paulbunyn
105 posts
Nov 21, 2014
8:39 AM
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Maybe this will help. I suggest looking at the first 2 videos also, but this one will answer your question. www.youtube.com/watch?v=4gBvmtoavCY
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Todd Parrott
1261 posts
Nov 21, 2014
8:54 AM
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I would say, technically, it doesn't matter, because the note is the same, whether you call it C# or Db for example.
When I use chords charts, it seems that the use of the sharp or flat symbol in the chord names is determined by the key signature. For example:
If the key signature is 6 sharps, that's the key of F#, so all of your black notes are referred to as sharps - F#, G#, A#, C# and D#.
If the key signature is 6 flats, that's the key of Gb (same key as F#) but your black notes are referred to as flats - Gb, Ab, Bb, Db and Eb. (You would also refer to B as Cb.)
But, if you're writing or reading harp tabs, or if you're looking up chord charts that people have made and posted online, you'll see examples of where this consistency is not followed. So, you might see a chord chart in Db, and they refer to the 4-chord as F# instead of Gb.
With harmonicas, I think Huang labels the Db harmonica as C#, and I think they are the only manufacturer that currently does so. (I think I had a Hering once that was labeled as C# on the cover plate.) And I think all manufacturers label the F# as F# and not Gb.
I guess if you wanted to have some fun, you could tell people that your favorite key of harmonica is Cb. It's the same as B, but I'm sure some harp players would say, "what?"
I hope this helps.
Last Edited by Todd Parrott on Nov 21, 2014 1:28 PM
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WinslowYerxa
722 posts
Nov 21, 2014
6:27 PM
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Whether you call a note by its flat name or its sharp name can by influenced by several factors.
Rather than go into them all, I'd recommend that you simply get familiar with knowing them both ways. It's not that hard to learn them.
Look at a piano keyboard. You'll see a repeating pattern of two black keys, a gap, and three more black keys, then a gap, and then the pattern repeats.
The repeating pattern covers the span of 8 white keys, and it's called an octave, from the Latin for "eight."
In any given octave, the five black-key notes are the ones that are usually called either by a flat name or a sharp name.
So that's only five things to memorize. How to do it? Here's an example for one of them.
The black key between C and D can be called:
- C-sharp (C#) as the note that's higher than C but lower than D.
- D-flat (Db), the note that's a little lower than C but higher than C.
Take a picture of a keyboard, find out where C is, and label the white keys for one octave. Then figure out the names of the black keys:
- The flat name is the name of the white key to the right, with a flat added.
- The sharp name is the name of the white key to the left, with a sharp added.
Once you get this you'll have a huge chunk of understanding that will help you with all sorts of musical concepts and terminology.
===========
Winslow
Harmonica For Dummies, Second Edition with tons of new stuff
Deepen your playing at the Harmonica Collective
Last Edited by WinslowYerxa on Nov 21, 2014 6:31 PM
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The Iceman
2251 posts
Nov 22, 2014
4:02 AM
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Question was asked by a beginner, so my response is...
A C# sounds identical to a Db. An F# sounds identical to a Gb...and so on.
Technically speaking, a C# is not the same note as a Db, but they sound identical.
In addition, it is not only the black notes that may be labeled b or #. White notes can also have this designation. (A B# sounds exactly the same as C).
The "spelling" of the notes is determined by the key signature.
This is stuff that a rank beginner does not need to tackle or fully understand right away. It helps to start to slip into a simple understanding of how music works first.
I've found most beginners to be overwhelmed in trying to wrap their head around this concept too soon.
Better to approach it from a scale degree understanding with labeling the notes based on key signature to follow at a later date.
Ultimately, it is relatively easy to comprehend, but one must travel through much uncharted personal territory before you pop out the other side with full understanding.
Winslow's book is a good resource.
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The Iceman
Last Edited by The Iceman on Nov 22, 2014 4:05 AM
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