Bluesy slide-harp tuning

Anything apart from the two mainstream default harmonicas (Solo-tuned fully-valved chromatic, and un-valved Richter 10-hole diatonic). Alternate tunings, different construction, new functionality, interesting old designs, wishful-thinking... whatever!
Post Reply
User avatar
IaNerd
Posts: 588
Joined: Thu Aug 10, 2017 6:42 pm
Location: Iowa, USA

Bluesy slide-harp tuning

Post by IaNerd » Thu Jan 23, 2020 4:58 pm

In the spirit of author Philip K. Dick ...

What if a half-valved slide-harp dreams about being a blues harp?
Attachments
IMG_20200123_1044198.jpg
IMG_20200123_1044198.jpg (1.57 MiB) Viewed 52739 times

User avatar
IaNerd
Posts: 588
Joined: Thu Aug 10, 2017 6:42 pm
Location: Iowa, USA

Re: Bluesy slide-harp tuning

Post by IaNerd » Fri Jan 24, 2020 4:33 pm

Attachments
2020-01-24 (2).png
2020-01-24 (2).png (28.43 KiB) Viewed 52713 times

User avatar
IaNerd
Posts: 588
Joined: Thu Aug 10, 2017 6:42 pm
Location: Iowa, USA

Re: Bluesy slide-harp tuning

Post by IaNerd » Fri Jan 24, 2020 4:54 pm

Allow me to break this down ...

As they are labeled above, the 1 through 10 blow notes are identical to what would be in a C major harp in standard Richter tuning. As such, they make a C major (IV) chord all the way through.

The 1 through 5 draw notes are also identical to standard Richter. Holes 0 through 4 make a G major (I) chord. To the right of this, we have nearly Richter but with the As removed. So from the 3 blow onward we have an implied G major chord with opportunities to include the b7 F note.

Pushing the slider in drops each of the slide-out draw notes of holes 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 9 and 10 to what would have been their respective draw-bends to the next lower blues scale note. The bright blue highlighting and the color-filled columns help to illustrate this.

The oscillating in/out slider actions for 2 blow, 5 blow, 8 blow, 11 blow, 5 draw, 8 draw and 11 draw emulate warbles between their native slide-out notes and their respective partners to the left. The magenta arrows and text boxes help to illustrate this.

The slider actions of the blow layer's holes 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 9 and 10 all have the effect of transitioning between each of those slide-out notes to the next lower blues scale note.
Last edited by IaNerd on Thu Jan 30, 2020 7:14 pm, edited 1 time in total.

User avatar
IaNerd
Posts: 588
Joined: Thu Aug 10, 2017 6:42 pm
Location: Iowa, USA

Re: Bluesy slide-harp tuning

Post by IaNerd » Sun Jan 26, 2020 5:04 pm

Another possibility is to have the slider transition some of the blow notes to what--in full Richter tuning--would have been their respective blow bends or overblows.

I invite your thoughts on how to tweak this general concept.

CrawfordEs
Posts: 100
Joined: Mon Apr 03, 2017 11:06 pm

Re: Bluesy slide-harp tuning

Post by CrawfordEs » Mon Jan 27, 2020 1:35 am

I use a pair of half valved Paddy Richter harmonicas in a switch harp, the slider drops most notes a semitone so it is close to what you describe. There are some neat effects that can be done. Play a note, bend it, push the button but keep bending, then go back. Depending on the hole you can get a nice “push”.

User avatar
IaNerd
Posts: 588
Joined: Thu Aug 10, 2017 6:42 pm
Location: Iowa, USA

Re: Bluesy slide-harp tuning

Post by IaNerd » Sun May 08, 2022 1:21 am

See a related discussion of mine here: viewtopic.php?f=9&t=876&p=3921#p3920

Post Reply