Re: [Harp-L] Donald Black tuning

[Rick Epping <rickepping@xxxxxxxxx>]

The Easy Third tuning (first time I've heard the term) is a great tuning,
for years the one I've used most for Irish and Old Time tunes, in both 1st
and 3rd position. When using it on single-reed vampers I valve hole 4 so I
can get the missing 7th as a blow bend.

The earliest example I know of this tuning is found in the pipe harmonica
Ted Folsom invented. His patent application for this instrument was
submitted in 1952 and granted in 1956 as U.S. Patent 2,754,714.  Sam Hinton
plays a few tunes using one on the CD, "Sam Hinton: Master of the Diatonic
Harmonica".

Best regards,
Rick

On Thursday, September 19, 2013, Blunt White wrote:

> Thanks, I use the Scalefinder on the Overblow.com to work out the
> notes.  Didn't see the Donald Black Highlander tuning.  Is it posted
> there under another name?
> Thank you,
> Blunt White
>
> > To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx <javascript:_e({}, 'cvml', 'harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx');>
> > Subject: Re: [Harp-L] Donald Black tuning
> > From: burket@xxxxxxx <javascript:_e({}, 'cvml', 'burket@xxxxxxx');>
> > Date: Wed, 18 Sep 2013 17:42:55 -0400
> > CC: rickepping@xxxxxxxxx <javascript:_e({}, 'cvml',
> 'rickepping@xxxxxxxxx');>
> >
> >
> > That sounds like a great tuning Rick. I think I'll give it a try and &
> have a dedicated D harp for this for Irish session tunes that are in
> Mixolydian mode.
> > I like the Easy Third tuning too. Its almost like having a solo tuned
> harp across two octaves.
> >
> > Thanks for the roadmap!
> >
> > The Donald Black Highlander tuning works well for Ballads like "Lagan
> Love".
> > I came across this you tube version.
> > My Lagan Love <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQRlpTIyLWk>
> >
> > Brendan's version on his "New Irish Harmonica" CD is lovely too.
> > Burke T.
> >
> >
> > Message: 1
> > Date: Tue, 17 Sep 2013 10:11:55 +0100
> > From: Rick Epping <rickepping@xxxxxxxxx <javascript:_e({}, 'cvml',
> 'rickepping@xxxxxxxxx');>>
> > Subject: Re: [Harp-L] Donald Black tuning
> > To: "harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx <javascript:_e({}, 'cvml', 'harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx');>"
> <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx <javascript:_e({}, 'cvml', 'harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx');>>
> > Message-ID:
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> 'CAJFTUGzOytMKn6zNOGXOQvgHjyLVdL75djW-uNaCJpquRsV6qA@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx');>>
> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
> >
> > 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
> >
> >
> >
>