Re: Overblows and how to do it!!

[Bill Long <LONGWJ@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Chris, Chris, Chris,

>Date: Thu, 16 Jun 1994 14:21:08 -0500 (CDT)
>From: Christian N Michalek <micha018@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> 
> 
>On Thu, 16 Jun 1994, Bill Long wrote:
> 
>>
>> MINOR CORRECTION: minor third above E natural is G natural, NOT F#
>>
>> Bill Long>-- StarGazer
> 
>Am I wrong on this????  I don't think so.  The five hole overblow on a C
>harp is F# a minor third above the tonic E.

Wow,  well I may not be able to overblow yet but I know what notes are what 
steps of what scales.  Chris, I suggest you sit down in front of a piano 
keyboard...I assume you know which keys are what, and play a E minor scale. 
The key signature is two sharps and you start on E, which as you correctly 
stated is the tonic of this scale.  The notes you will play in ascending 
order are:  E  F#  G  A  B  C#  D  E.  This is a natural minor scale, and 
as you can see the third step (a minor third above the tonic) is G not F#.

Now maybe when you overblow the E on a harp you actually get an F# instead 
of a G. I don't know because I can't do it yet.  If so then this is an 
exception to the rule that an overblow is a minor third above what you call 
the tonic, or the note that the reed would sound if played straight.

Maybe one of the harp-l's pundits could straighten this out for us.

>Read up on your theory bud!!!

Friend, I've been playing musical instruments since the summer of 1966, 
beginning with the trumpet.  I started playing guitar in 1970 and have been
playing the harp off and on since 1971.  Obviously time alone does not make
one an expert, or else I'd be able to overblow by now...and have a recording
contract.  But in 28 years I HAVE learned my scales and key-signatures!
 
>If I am wrong then please correct me as you flame me...

flames not necessary, a keyboard is more useful.

Billong>-- StarGazer