Re: [Harp-L] Donald Black tuning

[Rick Epping <rickepping@xxxxxxxxx>]

If you're going to be playing a 10-hole vamper, you might consider a 1st
position mixolydian tuning I sometimes use: starting from regular,
or Richter tuning, the 2-draw is lowered two semitones, and the 3-draw and
7-draw are each lowered one semitone.  This gives you most of
the mixolydian scale in the first octave (missing only the 6th), and
increases the number of playable octaves.  The blow notes (and chords)
remain unchanged.  The low draw chord is changed from the V to the bVII,
which is useful in the mixolydian mode.  On a D harp, the draw A chord
would be changed to C Major, from hole 1 through hole 5.

This tuning is also useful for playing a fourth up from the 1st
position key - which would be 12th position?  It gives you a G Major scale
on a D harp, with G octaves at 2&5-draw and 5&9-draw, your subdominant, or
C chord on the low draw and your dominant, or D chord on the blow.

This is the note layout for a retuned D harp:
Blow - D,F#,A,D,F#,A,D,F#,A,D
Draw -  E,G,C,E,G,B,C,E,G,B

Best regards,
Rick

>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Mon, 16 Sep 2013 18:20:10 +0100 (BST)
> From: Michael Snowden <mike.snowden@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx <javascript:_e({},
> 'cvml', 'mike.snowden@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx');>>
> Subject: Re: [Harp-L] Donald Black tuning
> To: winslowyerxa@xxxxxxxxx <javascript:_e({}, 'cvml',
> 'winslowyerxa@xxxxxxxxx');>, harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx <javascript:_e({}, 'cvml',
> 'harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx');>
> Message-ID:
>         <1379352010.8820.BPMail_high_carrier@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx<javascript:_e({}, 'cvml',
> '1379352010.8820.BPMail_high_carrier@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx');>>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
>
>
> According to Pat's site, the Highlander is a 1 semitone change of one reed
> only.  It's been too long since I saw Donald explain it to remember which
> is right!
>
> Mike
>
>
> ------------------------------
> On Mon, Sep 16, 2013 18:01 BST Winslow Yerxa wrote:
>
> >I think Donald calls it pipe tuning. He came up with it as a way of
> matching the scale on highland pipes (hence also the name that Hohner
> produces in this tuning, the Highlander).
> >
> >Winslow
> >
> >Winslow Yerxa
> >Author, Harmonica For Dummies, ISBN 978-0-470-33729-5
> >            Harmonica Basics For Dummies, ASIN B005KIYPFS
> >            Blues Harmonica For Dummies, ISBN 978-1-1182-5269-7
> >Resident Harmonica Expert, bluesharmonica.com
> >Instructor, Jazzschool for Music Study and Performance
> >
> >
> >________________________________
> > From: brian.irving <brian.irving@xxxxxxxxx <javascript:_e({}, 'cvml',
> 'brian.irving@xxxxxxxxx');>>
> >To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx <javascript:_e({}, 'cvml', 'harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx');>
> >Sent: Monday, September 16, 2013 7:49 AM
> >Subject: [Harp-L] Donald Black tuning
> >
> >
> >Anyone know the name of the harp tuning used by Donald Black - 3 draw
> tuned
> >down 2 semi-tones?   It makes gaelic airs easier to play.
> >
> >
> >
> >Brian
>
>
>