Re-tuning from Solo to either "normal" or "inverted" Natural Minor

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!
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IaNerd
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Re-tuning from Solo to either "normal" or "inverted" Natural Minor

Post by IaNerd » Thu Feb 18, 2021 3:13 pm

First I list some Solo-tuned harmonicas:

* most slide chromatic harps
* the Tombo #3624 School/Solo Tremolo
* the Seydel Fanfare-S Tremolo
* the Hohner Tremolo Soloist
* the Easttop Brendan Power Lucky 13 Solo
* the Hohner Marine Band 364S Solo
* the Seydel Orchestra S
* the Seydel Solist Pro Steel - Solo
* the Seydel Sampler

Any of these can be re-tuned to "normal" Natural Minor by lowering every 3rd, 6th and 7th note by one semitone. Nothing new here. This is shown in the first of two diagrams below. Note that in this re-tuning, the tonic note of the harp does not change, and it remains in the blow layer.

But any Solo-tuned harp can, with just a bit more difficulty, be re-tuned to become "inverted" Natural Minor. This is shown in the second diagram below. Note that in this re-tuning, the tonic note of the harp is now one whole tone higher, and it now resides in the draw layer.

download/file.php?mode=view&id=755
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Re: Re-tuning from Solo to either "normal" or "inverted" Natural Minor

Post by IaNerd » Thu Feb 18, 2021 5:14 pm

In the "normal" (upper) re-tuning above, the D notes in blow holes ---, 4 and 8 could also be lowered by two semitones to become C. This would change the chord of the blow layer from Dmin to Dmin7.
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Re: Re-tuning from Solo to either "normal" or "inverted" Natural Minor

Post by IaNerd » Fri Feb 19, 2021 5:02 pm

Now I the consider second of the two re-tunings shown above, and change one more note (the 3 blow). This change permits us to use the low end for lots of tasty chords that are pertinent to the harp's melodic key of D natural minor.

Some common chordal progressions for the key of D natural minor are:

• i – VI* – VII (Dm – Bb* – C)
• i – iv – VII (Dm – Gm – C)
• i – iv – v* (Dm – Gm – Am*)
• i – VI* – III – VII (Dm – Bb* – F – C)
• ii – v* – i (Em7b5 – Am – Dm)
NOTE: In all of these, an asterisk (*) indicates a partial chord only.

download/file.php?mode=view&id=758
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Re: Re-tuning from Solo to either "normal" or "inverted" Natural Minor

Post by IaNerd » Fri Feb 19, 2021 9:35 pm

Songs in A natural minor outnumber those in D natural minor. Therefore I offer a transposed version of the post directly above.

Some common chordal progressions for the key of A natural minor are:

• i – VI* – VII (Am – F* – G)
• i – iv – VII (Am – Dm – G)
• i – iv – v* (Am – Dm – Em*)
• i – VI* – III – VII (Am – F* – C – G)
• ii – v* – i (Bm7b5 – Em – Am)
NOTE: In all of these, an asterisk (*) indicates a partial chord only.

download/file.php?mode=view&id=759
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Re: Re-tuning from Solo to either "normal" or "inverted" Natural Minor

Post by IaNerd » Sat Feb 20, 2021 7:16 pm

This is a variation of the post above. As a re-tuning it would be more difficult, but the result would be better chords that are easier to play.

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Re: Re-tuning from Solo to either "normal" or "inverted" Natural Minor

Post by IaNerd » Mon Feb 22, 2021 6:51 pm

Readers may wish to compare the Lucky 13 re-tunings above with those shown here:

viewtopic.php?f=9&t=616&p=2823#p2823

and here:

viewtopic.php?f=9&t=792&p=3475#p3464
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Re: Re-tuning from Solo to either "normal" or "inverted" Natural Minor

Post by IaNerd » Wed Feb 24, 2021 2:55 pm

It has occurred to me that the re-tuning two posts above could also be useful for G mixolydian play. In that case, there is a "normal" breath pattern, i.e. the tonic is in the blow layer.

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Re: Re-tuning from Solo to either "normal" or "inverted" Natural Minor

Post by IaNerd » Thu Sep 02, 2021 6:39 pm

Since the introduction of Lucky 13s in PowerChromatic tunings, we now have an easier way to re-tune into natural minor. See this: viewtopic.php?f=9&t=827#p3630

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