Subject: [Harp-L] Lee Oskar Minor Tuned Harp

[EGS1217@xxxxxxx]

Not being a diatonic player (yet).....'Ain't No Sunshine' has been one of  
my fun pieces to noodle around with on my A Cx-12 chromatic.  And it  
definitely sounds 'jazzy'. I got some compliments playing it over guitar  'backing 
tracks' at an open mic last spah (with smojoe playing accompaniment) -  
although we'd never played it together and were winging it with no rehearsal  
(first time I'd played it for an audience).  It wasn't perfect, but sure  was 
fun.
 
Maybe one of these days I'll try it on a diatonic.  I do have a couple  of 
LO minor tuned harps put away somewhere :)
 
Elizabeth
 
"Message: 4
Date: Wed, 8 Jul 2009 9:12:43 -0400
From: Tom Halchak  <thalchak@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [Harp-L] Lee Oskar Minor Tuned  Harp
To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx

I just received a Lee Oskar minor tuned  harp in the mail yesterday.  It's 
a Dm.  I didn't know what to expect,  but I couldn't wait to play it.  I am 
admittedly not very strong (yet) in  my music theory.  What a unique and 
beautiful sound it makes!  Just  running up and down the holes produces the 
equivalent of what would be a very  complex riff on a major tuned diatonic.  I 
have only had it for about 12  hours and have only been able to play it for 
a half hour or so and have already  found three songs that really fit on the 
minor tuning.

Ain't No Sunshine  When She's Gone
Summertime
When Johnnie Comes Marching Home  Again

All these can be played in, what appears to me, as the first  position and 
they sound great.  I can play these on a major tuned harp but  just try 
Ain't no Sunshine When She's Gone on the 1-5 holes  on a major  tuned harp - it 
is full transitions from half step bends to full step bends and  has more 
twists and turns than a roller coaster.  It's a neat tune to play  but 
sometimes if you don't hit the bends just right in the transitions it can  sound 
pretty sloppy (for me at least).  On the minor tuned harp it just  fits.  
Sounds beautiful.

It seems to me that the minor tunings would  be great for jazz.  Am I 
wrong? 
Can anybody offer some suggestions as  to what type or even some songs that 
are better played on a minor  tuning?

Thanks.

Tom Halchak

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