Re: [Harp-L] Tune on Harmonic Minor Harp?

[Richard Hunter <turtlehill@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Cara Cooke wrote:
"The harmonic minor scale harmonicas can be an awful lot of fun...Here
are some ideas of what you can do with it:
... The first is play any scale exercise or tune that you would normally
play on a standard major diatonic, and play it, instead, on the harmonic
minor. It really can have very fun and strange results... The other
thing that I like to do with a harmonic minor harmonica is explore or
wander. You can play anything you want, making up a tune as you go, with
a harmonic minor harmonica and it will sound as if you were playing a
real tune -- not just one you were making up as you went. The end result
is you can simply play the harmonic minor harmonica to clear your mind
-- deliberately not thinking of anything at all. Anything you come up
with will still sound neat."

Note that everything above applies as well to other non-standard
tunings, such as Dorian Minor, Melody Maker, Natural Minor, and Country
tuning.

Cara's practice of carrying two harmonicas -- standard tuned and
harmonic minor -- at all times is a good way to painlessly build
familiarity with non-standard tunings. 

It's safe, too.  I have never seen any player actually injured by a
non-standard tuning.  

Regards,
Richard Hunter
hunterharp.com