Heptatonic scales
Under my definition of scales, I have found four common heptatonic (seven note) Gaelic
diatonic harp scales which all appear in songs with their respective finals. In téad leagaidh
tuning, ie all naturals, they are locatable on the gamut of the Gaelic harp using the following
notes.
Téad leagaidh table
The retuning of the F strings to F# (ie leithghléas tuning) allows the whole system of scales
to be transposed up the harp by five strings or down the harp by four strings. The letters
'xA' represent the scale of 'leithghléas A' or 'A one sharp', ie, not the natural A scale but the
transposed D scale produced in leithghléas.
Leithghléas table
The separation of only a wholetone in pitch between the scales of fuígheall bheag (eg C
natural) and fuígheall mhór (eg D two sharps) may explain the rare use of the fuígheall mhór
tuning by the Gaelic harpers in relation to song as there is little difference in range. Bunting
leaves us no historical examples of fuígheall mhór being used on the harp.
scale
|
D
|
C
|
A
|
G
|
| |
D
C
B
A
G
F
E
D
|
C
B
A
G
F
E
D
C
|
A
G
F
E
D
C
B
A
|
G
F
E
D
C
B
A
G
|
|
scale
|
×A
|
×G
|
×E
|
×D
|
| |
A
G
F#
E
D
C
B
A
|
G
F#
E
D
C
B
A
G
|
E
D
C
B
A
G
F#
E
|
D
C
B
A
G
F#
E
D
|
|