Re: [Harp-L] Eric Chafer - Augmented Spanish Tunings

["Planet Harmonica" <lists@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I'd say there are mostly two reasons :

a/ harmonica players in general tend to shun tunings that don't suggest a 
frequently useable harmony, scale, etc. Eric's tuning is single notes only 
and there's very little you can do with simple draw or blow patterns on more 
than one hole.

b/ In order to play jazz with this tuning (or any other, mind you, but I 
think it's even more of an issue with this one) you need to be dead accurate 
on all notes. And there's a heck of a lot of bends involved here since half 
the notes in each hole are bent. That means you're going to be jumping from 
bends to bends all over the place. Not easy to master.

After Eric was "discovered" in France a couple of years back, there was a 
short fad and a couple of people order "Chafer" tunings from Brendan Power. 
I considered it. The thing is, I don't think I have the time and dedication 
to re-learn everything I know about the harmonica only more sensibly at this 
stage in my life...

FWIW, Eric hardly plays harp anymore. I hope he comes back to it at some 
point, but his main gig is tuba right now.

Ben



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Pierre" <plavio@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Saturday, January 08, 2005 6:27 PM
Subject: [Harp-L] Eric Chafer - Augmented Spanish Tunings


> 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
>
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