Octave Range
Just out of curiosity, from a G harp on the low side to the high F including all the harps in between, how many octaves does that represent?
Thanks for the response. So, to make sure I understand, the range from low G, A, B, C, D, and F is just four octaves?
Yes.
First, a note on how pitch ranges are numbered: Notes in octaves are number, with C being the first numbered note in each octave.
C4 is middle C, with D4, E4, F4, G4, A4, B4, and then the next octave starting with C5. And so on.
The lowest note on a standard G-harp is G3, just four steps below Middle C. its highest note is G6, three octaves higher.
The lowest note on a standard F-harp is F4, four steps above middle C, and seven steps above G3. The highest note on that same F-harp is F7.
So G3 to F7 is just one step shy of four octaves.
Now, you can throw harps in High G (starting on G4) into the mix, along with Low F (starting on F3), Low G 9starting on G2) and Double-Low-F (starting on F2) and you really expand the combined ranges.
given that each harp has a three octave range, I would think that the combined range would be higher. No big issue, tho. This was just out of curiosity.
There is nearly two octaves of overlap between the ranges of those two keys, though. Blow 1 on the F-harp would be Draw 3 single bend on the G-harp.
Good to know.
Ten-hole harmonicas in standard tuning have a range of three octaves.
The standard G harp is pitched 10 semitones (a minor 7th, or two semitones less than an octave) below the standard F harp.
So the combined range of the two keys is just two semitones shy of four octaves.