[Harp-L] Alternate Harmonica Spiral Tuning ( was KNIRI 221)

[Gary Lehmann]

I’m pretty fond of FourKey, but it’s taking a while to get fluent on it. 
I also like chords on a harmonica, and am enjoying a hybrid Major Cross/Power Chromatic tuning, similar to the Melody Maker/Power Chromatic tuning that Pat Missin recommended to me. 
Hard to beat Richter tho, isn’t it!
Sent from my iPad

> On Dec 5, 2024, at 4:18 PM, Jeremy Uejio <jazzju at xxxxx> wrote:
> 
> I've done some analysis of this tuning and it looks like it is great for
> chords, but not as good as richter tuning for melodies. I have a list of
> 117 songs in my analysis and found that kniri tuning can only play 78 songs
> (with bends, but no overblows). Richter tuning can play 106 songs, circular
> can play 97, and of course 4-key can play all the songs.  I should qualify
> that and say that those songs are possible to play on these tunings, but I
> cannot play them all. :)   I haven't found my dream tuning yet which has a
> good combination of melodies, chords, and consistency.  Kniri tuning might
> be it, but, right now, I'm trying a hybrid bebop-four-key tuning:
> 
> blow: C, E, G, Bb, C, Eb, F, G, Bb, C
> draw: D, F, A, B,   D,  E, Gb, A, B, D
> 
> My program for analysis is written in python and not ready for prime-time,
> but if you have a tuning that you would like evaluated with the list of 117
> songs (songs that I can roughly play by ear on the piano), please email me
> and I would be happy to run that for you.  Also, if you have a song that
> you want to play on a particular tuning and was wondering what keys you can
> play it in, my program will also output that.  For example, for kniri
> tuning (starting with A), you can play Amazing Grace in 5 different keys
> (first letter is key, second letter is start note, and 3rd letter is ending
> note):
> 
> Amazing Grace (D/A4/D5, F/C6/F6, C/G5/C6, Bb/F6/Bb6, G/D5/G5)
> 
> A more complicated song with 3 bent notes (F,Eb, and Gb) in Bb and starting
> on F:
> 
> When You Wish Upon a Star (Bb/F5/Bb6/3-F5,Eb6,Gb6).
> 
> jeremy
> 
>> On Thu, Dec 5, 2024 at 7:39 AM Kniri via Harp-L <harp-l at xxxxx> wrote:
>> 
>> Hello Spiral Tuning Friends
>> 
>> Has anyone already used this tuning?
>> 
>> *Alternate Harmonica Spiral Tuning **KNIRI 221 *
>> The "diatonic-cyclic" tone arrangement *KNIRI 221* (invented 2001,
>> published 2009), makes it possible
>> to play identical melodies in several major and minor keys.
>> On a 10 hole harmonica, this allows to play 5 different *mixolydian*
>> *major* scales
>> and 5 different *natural minor (aeolian)* scales, which are
>> related/similar to the circle of 4ths (and 5ths).
>> The tones have a regular spacing: 221.221.221.221 etc. 2=whole tone,
>> 1=semitone.
>> The nice thing about this is if you blow or draw any four notes right
>> next to then it will always result
>> in a *flat7th-chord* major, diminished or minor, depending where you are.
>> This makes it very easy if you want to use the instrument to accompany
>> someone and for improvisation.
>> 
>> DEMO
>> Improvisation ALL OF ME in C, with Special Spiral Tuning *KNIRI 221* in A
>> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BdpcgcaqYAo
>> 
>> 10 hole harmonicaconfigured by*SEYDEL
>> <
>> https://www.seydel1847.de/harp-configurator?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR1xgEUCFU6DDRTD_pQm9A2hFkq0tbuVDfeBWs0U81ImbiNjEGnpBwFu12I_aem_Jv35KBtpxACbsJf1Kkv2sA
>>> *
>> 
>> *Kniri 221*(A)
>> 
>> blow: A, C#', E', G', B', D'', F'', A'', C''', Eb'''
>> 
>> draw: B, D', F#', A', C'', E'', G'', Bb'', D''', F'''
>> 
>> per comparison:
>> 
>> *Spiral/Circular *(A)
>> 
>> blow: A, C#', E', G', B', D'', F#'', A'', C#''', E'''
>> 
>> draw: B, D', F#', A', C#'', E'', G'', B'', D''', F#'''
>>