Why are the many instruments notes are not in order?
For example, the harmonica notes are made as follows (based on 16H):
E A G B C D E F G A C B E D G F
Why not make it like this?
F G A B C D E F G A B C D E F G
The same goes for violin strings:
G D A E
Why not make it like G G G G or A A A A?
Is it for historical or scientific or practical reasons?
I would like to know more details why.
2 Comments
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The main reason is a practical one : you can easily play chords with such an order.
I don't get your order of tones for the harmonica, because there are different tones for blow and draw. The point on harmonica is the blow in all holes is for one chord. In a C diatonic harmonica the blow is all a C major chord, the tonic chord. The draw is basically all the dominant chord of C. Specifically the draw would be a G9. Or you can think of the draw as different portions of a subdominant ii or IV chord combined with the dominant. Simple harmony (and melodies derived from it) sort work by alternating between tonic and dominant or subdominant chord tones. the blow and draw arrangement of tones make it each to play basic harmony by simple alternating in and out. So the arrangement is a practical consideration.
The violin example is a bit trickier to explain in part because the violin can be tuned differently than G D A E. But the basic idea is you play up each string four steps keeping the hand in one position on the neck and then you shift to the next string to keep going higher without needing to shift the hand position higher up the neck. This too is a practical arrangement of the string tuning.
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