Little Walter, Oskar Tunings

[Winslow Yerxa <76450.3230@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

TO: internet:harp-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

=========Ted asks about Little Walter. Joe Terrasi is right,
"Teenage Beat" is in D on a C chromatic. Yes, Little Walter did
record twice with the Koch (that I know of. So did Rice Miller).
One is "Oh Baby (You're Gonna Miss Me When I'm Gone)" played in
Ab on a C Koch - he just plays crossharp with the slide in, and
lets it out for some slide dips. There is an alternate take of
this tune that shows up in some collections, called "I Love You
So." 

======Bart de Boer asks about Lee Oskar tunings. Here's a regular C
harp:


      1      2	    3	   4	  5	 6	7      8      9     10
   =======================================================================
DR |	  |	 |	|      |      |      |	    |	   |	  |	 |
   |  D   |  G	 |  B	|  D   |  F   |  A   |	B   |  D   |  F   |  A	 |
   |------+------+------+------+------+------+------+------+------+------|
   |	  |	 |	|      |      |      |	    |	   |	  |	 |
BL |  C   |  E	 |  G	|  C   |  E   |  G   |	C   |  E   |  G   |  C	 |
   =======================================================================


Here's a Melody Maker in G.

      1      2	    3	   4	  5	 6	7      8      9     10
   =======================================================================
DR |	  |	 |	|      |      |      |	    |	   |	  |	 |
   |  D   |  G	 |  B	|  D   |  F#  |  A   |	B   |  D   |  F#  |  A	 |
   |------+------+------+------+------+------+------+------+------+------|
   |	  |	 |	|      |      |      |	    |	   |	  |	 |
BL |  C   |  E	 |  A	|  C   |  E   |  G   |	C   |  E   |  G   |  C	 |
   =======================================================================

While this is a variation on standard C tuning, it's labeled in G, as it's
meant to be played in G Major. All the F's have been raised to F#, and the
G in Blow 3 has been raised to A, allowing a complete major scale without
bending or overblowing.
------------------------------

Here's the Natural minor in G

      1      2	    3	   4	  5	 6	7      8      9     10
   =======================================================================
DR |	  |	 |	|      |      |      |	    |	   |	  |	 |
   |  D   |  G	 |  Bb	|  D   |  F   |  A   |	Bb  |  D   |  F   |  A	 |
   |------+------+------+------+------+------+------+------+------+------|
   |	  |	 |	|      |      |      |	    |	   |	  |	 |
BL |  C   |  Eb  |  G	|  C   |  Eb  |  G   |	C   |  Eb  |  G   |  C	 |
   =======================================================================

Note how it's labeled in the crossharp key. G natural minor is the same sacle as
Bb major, and if you treat Hole 2 on this harp as Hole 1, you have a Melody
Maker in Bb.
------------------------------

Here is a Harmonic Minor in C, the "non-diatonic" minor Bart is seeking.

      1      2	    3	   4	  5	 6	7      8      9     10
   =======================================================================
DR |	  |	 |	|      |      |      |	    |	   |	  |	 |
   |  D   |  G	 |  B	|  D   |  F   |  Ab  |	B   |  D   |  F   |  Ab  |
   |------+------+------+------+------+------+------+------+------+------|
   |	  |	 |	|      |      |      |	    |	   |	  |	 |
BL |  C   |  Eb  |  G	|  C   |  Eb  |  G   |	C   |  Eb  |  G   |  C	 |
   =======================================================================

This is yet again a variation on standard C tuning, but this one is not
labeled in crossharp position. it is meant to be played in first position
(C). Both Lee Oskar and Hohner make this tuning.

In C harmonic minor, the third (Eb) and sixth (Ab) are minor, while the
seventh, which in a natural minor scale would be minor (Bb), is left as a
major (B). The distinctive interval formed by a minor sixth and a major
seventh is what gives the harmonic minor its lugubrious, eastern-sounding
character.

If you prefer a crossharp version of this, you could take a Natural minor
in G, and raise the pitch of the F reeds to F#.

Winslow Yerxa