MORE LA HARP NEWS / MINOR THEORY

[BassHarper@xxxxxxx]

<From Saturday's L.A. Times - "It took nearly 30 years, but when Eric Clapton
sauntered on stage at the Forum on Thursday, picked up an acoustic 12-string
and started strumming the old blues number "Motherless Child," he looked as
if he'd finally come home.  In a concert devoted to blues songs, as is his
new album, "From The Cradle," the Englishman seemed more comfortable and
passionate on stage than at any time in memory.  No small achievement.
 ....Dressed in a white T-shirt and baggy pants, and with close-cropped hair
and round glasses, he was a Zen blues master, ripping out guitar licks with
celestial thunder and grace, and singing the words of great blues gods with
soulful conviction.  ....The music Clapton played - two hours of nuggets
associated with the likes of Muddy Waters, Elmore James and other greats of
the Delta/Chicago axis - was the music that courses through his veins.
 Clapton paced the show well as a primer in blues styles, starting with the
acoustic basics (resembling his Grammy-winning 1992 "Unplugged" session).  As
the show progressed, he and his band (which features veteran blues-rock
pianist Chris Stainton and harmonica ace Jerry Portnoy), electrified the set,
culminating with horn-spiked urban blues."  Eric Clapton will give blues-only
concerts Nov 11, 12 & 13 at the House of Blues, 8:30 pm.  Tickets are $30 and
are available only through Ticketmaster's phone service.

SOME MINOR THEORY                   
Minor keys are based on scales having a flatted third.  Example: C Major
Chord: C, E, G; and C Minor Chord: C, Eb, G.

Melodic Minor scales have the third note flatted.  Example: C, D, Eb,  F,
G,A, B, C.

Natural Minor scales (also known as Aeolian scales) have the third, sixth and
seventh notes flatted.  Example: C, D, Eb, F, G, Ab, Bb, C.

Harmonic Minor scales have the third and sixth notes flatted. Example: C, D,
Eb, F, G, Ab, B, C.

Dorian scales have the third and seventh notes flatted.  Example: C, D, Eb,
F, G, A, Bb, C.

RELATIVE MINOR KEYS
It is possible to play in the minor mode on a major tuned diatonic harmonica.
 For instance, the key of A Minor can be found on a C Major harp because A
Minor is the relative minor of the key of C Major, and can be played without
bending notes by starting on hole  #6 draw.  Likewise, the relative minor
scales can be played on any major diatonic harmonica starting on hole #6
draw.  (George Gershwin's "Summertime", in the minor mode, can be played
without bending any notes on a major tuned diatonic harmonica by starting on
hole #8 blow.)

To find the relative minor key of a given major key, count back three
semitones from the major key.  Example: if the major is C, count back three
semitones to B, Bb and A.  So A Minor is the relative minor of C Major.
 Another example: from key of A major, count back three semitones to Ab, G
and F#, so F# Minor is the relative minor of A Major.

To determine which major key harmonica is needed to play in a given minor
key, just reverse the process.  Example: to play in D Minor, count up three
semitones (Eb, E, F).  So an F Major harp is required.

Conversely, it is also possible to play in the major mode on a Natural Minor
diatonic harmonica.  For instance, the key of C Major  can be found on an A
Natural Minor harp because C Major is the relative major of the key of A
Minor, and can be played without bending notes by starting on hole #3 draw.
 Likewise, the relative major scales can be played on any Natural Minor
diatonic  harmonica starting on hole #3 draw.