[Harp-L] Re: Tell me about the "country" tuning on harmonicas, please.

[Jim Hanks <jhanks@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

 Country tuning is standard tuning with a raised draw 5 reed, so it 
would be F# instead of F on a C harp. In second position this is the 
major 7th scale tone, e.g. F# in the key of G. So second position is 
almost always used on a country tune harp. This allows you to play a lot 
of melodies in second position. If you think about it, you now have a G 
scale starting on draw 2 going up to blow 6. Of course the A note is a 
double draw 3, so to make that easier, you could go with Lee Oskar's 
Melody Maker tuning which puts the A on blow 3 in addition to the raised 
draw 5. The Melody Maker also puts an F# in the upper octave to continue 
the theme.

For bluegrass and country, which are dominated by strings (guitars, 
fiddle, etc.), the best keys are going to be on the sharp side of the 
circle - G, D, A, E. The harp might be marketed in those keys are 
already. For example, Melody Maker G is meant to be played in the key of 
G in second position. Not sure about true country tuned harps so make 
sure you can play the keys you want in second position.

Jim