A "Regular Easy 3rd" repeating every 3 holes is an interesting idea! I haven't tried it, but it inspires some thoughts: Compared to other tunings, it seems to emphasise overblows rather than bending!
Let's assume a C harp:
Code: Select all
C E G C E G C E G C
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
D F A D F A D F A D
A major drawback of the RE3 is that there are TWO notes missing which cannot be reached by bending, Bb and B. The Bb can be reached with an overblow though.
With the big fat C major chord it's tempting to play in C, and if you're happy with a pentatonic scale this might work. Am could work in the same way, but without so many useful chords. Because of the missing B, however, sharp keys are pretty much of out of the question: you can't even get any sharp pentatonic scales!
If we're playing in natural Dm (or a Dm blues scale) we don't really need the B so this might ok, or even more than ok, as you would get that juicy Dm chord all the way up the top. In a way, it's a very "simple" tuning, as the pattern is short and doesn't require any bends. If we stay in natural Dm, bends would solely be used as ornamentations on the tonic, 3rd and 5th, arguably the most important notes in the scale. I don't know when I'll have time to try it, but it certainly sounds intriguing!
As for the other flat keys they require more overblows (and some bends), and look awkward to play. This tuning appears to be quite a one-key pony
PS. It might be nice to shift the entire thing to get in a low A at the bottom:
Code: Select all
G C E G C E G C E G
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
A D F A D F A D F A
What do you think?