Re: [Harp-L] Donald Black tuning

[Rick Epping <rickepping@xxxxxxxxx>]

I forgot to add that with this tuning, the missing 6th in the first octave
is an easy bend on 3-draw (B on a D harp).


On Tue, Sep 17, 2013 at 10:11 AM, Rick Epping <rickepping@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> 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>
>> Subject: Re: [Harp-L] Donald Black tuning
>> To: winslowyerxa@xxxxxxxxx, harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
>> Message-ID:
>>         <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>
>> >To: 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
>>
>>
>>