[Harp-L] Eric Chafer - Augmented Spanish Tunings

[Pierre <plavio@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I was listening to my Invitation CD and checked out Eric Chafer who is one of the outstanding artists featured on the CD. I was puzzled, sounded like chromatic playing on a diatonic without any signs of overblows. Turns out he plays Augmented Spanish Tunings. Apparently this tunning allows chromatic playing without overblows/valves.

Eric's tone is to die for and listening to his playing makes me want to throw out my stock harps and start all over again. Now I understand why Smo-joe threw out all his harps.

I'm sort of wondering why nobody else is using this tuning? What are the challenges? practically speaking could this harp be used for styles other than jazz or would there be too much bending involved for mere mortals? 

I'm also wondering why Lee Oskars seems to be favored for this tuning? I'm not big on LOs, could a Special 20 or Golden Melody be used instead?

BTW, big thanks to all for CD suggestions in the "Favorite 2004 CD" thread.

Pierre.


Article about Eric and sample tunes:

http://www.planetharmonica.com/EricChafer.htm

(Hard to believe but Eric's tune on the Invitation CD is even better than these)


Augmented Spanish Tuning:

http://www.angelfire.com/music/harmonica/augspanlayouts.html