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David's Tip of the Day: Major Scale & Folk Songs - Part 4

David Barrett Admin's picture

Note that blows are still blows and draws are still draws (5+ = E, 8+ = E / 5 = F, 9 = F)... this is a great piece of knowledge to have... it makes the high-end a bit more approachable.

Do note that your movement is different though...

In the original line of "When the Saints Go Marching In" you played 4+ 5+ 5 6+ and in the upper octave you played 7+ 8+ 9 9+... for the F (referencing a C Harmonica here) you stayed on the same hole (5+ E) and drew (5 F) to get the next note... for the high end you played the 8+ (E) and had to move up for the 9 (F) to get the next note.

So... the change on the high end is...

When moving UP the scale:
Mid Range = After a blow you draw to get the next note of the scale
High Range = After a blow you move UP one and draw to get the next note of the scale

When moving DOWN the scale:
Mid Range = After a blow you move DOWN one and draw to get the next note of the scale
High Range = After a blow you draw to get the next note of the scale

Major Scale
Low Octave: 1+ 1 2+ 2" 2 3" 3 4+
Mid Octave: 4+ 4 5+ 5 6+ 6 7 7+
High Octave: 7+ 8 8+ 9 9+ 10 10' 10+

When the Saints Go Marching In (High Octave)
7+ 8+ 9 9+, 7+ 8+ 9 9+, 7+ 8+ 9 9+ 8+ 7+ 8+ 8, 8+ 8+ 8 7+, 7+ 8+ 9+ 9+ 9, 9 8+ 9 9+ 8+ 7+ 8 7+

When the Saints Go Marching In (Mid Octave)
4+ 5+ 5 6+, 4+ 5+ 5 6+, 4+ 5+ 5 6+ 5+ 4+ 5+ 4, 5+ 5+ 4 4+, 4+ 5+ 6+ 6+ 5, 5 5+ 5 6+ 5+ 4+ 4 4+