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Octatonic Tuning "1122" (Idea Kniri)

Posted: Thu Oct 31, 2019 8:54 am
by Kniri
Hello Alternate Tuning Friends
I have a idea for a special tuning for 10-hole harmonica
If somebody interested, here is my idea

"1122" Tuning
for 10-hole Diatonic Harmonica

Octatonic scale (6.Modus)
Scale: steps 1122.1122.1122.......
C/Db/D/E/Gb/G/Ab/Bb/C/Db/D/E/Gb/G/Ab/Bb/C/Db/D/E........

blow: C D Gb Ab C D Gb Ab C D
hole: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
draw: Db E G Bb Db E G Bb Db E
bend: ...Eb,..A,.....Eb,.....A,....Eb.

...................D7.......D b5.........Ab7..........Ab b5
Chords blow: C D Gb----D Gb Ab----Gb Ab C----Ab C D
Chords draw: Db E G----E G Bb-----G Bb Db----Bb Db E
...................Db dim....E dim.......G dim........Bb dim

more ideas on: www.kniri.ch (Kniri 221)

Re: Octatonic Tuning "1122" (Idea Kniri)

Posted: Thu Oct 31, 2019 9:47 am
by Brendan
Thanks Kniri, looks interesting.

By the way, you can input your tunings here in a way that comes out much better, so everything lines up nicely. Here are the instructions:
viewtopic.php?f=9&t=20

Here's how it looks with your1122 tuning:

Code: Select all

BLOW	C	D	Gb	Ab	C	D	Gb	Ab	C	D
HOLE	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
DRAW	Db	E	G	Bb	Db	E	G	Bb	Db	E
BEND		Eb		A		Eb		A		Eb
It makes everything easier to understand. If you have time, you could go back and do it with your other tunings too - we might see their good points more clearly :-)

Re: Octatonic Tuning "1122" (Idea Kniri)

Posted: Thu Oct 31, 2019 11:17 am
by EdvinW
There are two hexatonic blues scales in there, Eb and A, which are played with the exact same pattern. That's nice. The fifths bend down one half step, so I could imagine this tuning being good for blues as long as you stay in the hexatonic blues scale! The tonic is a bent note in both scales, which could be seen as an advantage or disadvantage depending on individual preferences.

There are no major scales, natural minor scales or any other minor scales I can think of, even if you use bends. Only the two pentatonic scales that are part of the blues scales. If the goal is to play octatonic music, no doubt this is also a reasonable tuning but I'm afraid my understanding of such music borders complete ignorance, so some musical example would be interesting. In any case it seems to be a very specialized tool, so it would be interesting to hear which musical needs that pushed the idea forth :)

Also, like Brendan said, it's a good idea to format your tunings. I would not had read it as easily in the format you provided, but relied on Brendan's transcription. It's not very hard to learn, and you will find it a lot easier to get feedback on your ideas! :)

Re: Octatonic Tuning "1122" (Idea Kniri)

Posted: Thu Oct 31, 2019 12:52 pm
by Kniri
Thanks Brendan and Edvin for your interest and instruction.
I am experimenting with "Diatonic Cyclic Scales" who have logical symmetric steps:
21212121212121...../ 112211221122112211....../ 12221222122212221222.....on on on etcetera
My first idea was my Kniri 221 tuning in the circle of 4ths, steps 221221221221221221......
I have no musical exemple of the Octatonic Tuning because it's a new idea ! :idea: