Spiral-DLT tuning (a working title)

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: Spiral-DLT tuning (a working title)

Post by IaNerd » Sat Oct 16, 2021 11:16 pm

The tuning in Figure 5 (in the post above) could be had via Seydel's Configurator. A more economical -- though compromised -- approach would be to re-tune any standard Richter harp in the manner shown below. Re-tuning a Paddy Richter harp would be even easier, as the 3 blow would already be okay. I say "compromised" because the re-tuning shown below differs from the tuning in Figure 5 (above) in the top four holes.

We can see that the re-tuning below is very similar to Major Cross. It could even be regarded as a "modal variant" of Major Cross.

download/file.php?mode=view&id=818
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Last edited by IaNerd on Mon Oct 18, 2021 12:36 pm, edited 1 time in total.

EdvinW
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Re: Spiral-DLT tuning (a working title)

Post by EdvinW » Sun Oct 17, 2021 8:28 am

IaNerd wrote:
Sat Oct 16, 2021 10:39 pm
This tuning would definitely benefit from being extended to the right in a 12- or 13- or 16-hole harp.

download/file.php?mode=view&id=816
Holes 4-10 follow what chromatic players sometimes call Classical tuning, so there should be longer chroms tuned like this. You'd still have to spiral the bottom, but I thought you'd be interested to know :)
Edvin Wedin

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IaNerd
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Re: Spiral-DLT tuning (a working title)

Post by IaNerd » Sun Oct 17, 2021 9:57 am

Thanks, Edvin!

Therefore the tuning in Figure 5 should not be called Spiral-D(oubled) L(eading) T(one). It should instead be called Spiral-Classical.

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IaNerd
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Re: Spiral-DLT tuning (a working title)

Post by IaNerd » Mon Oct 18, 2021 12:34 pm

As I reconsider the "compromised" tuning shown three posts above I now see that it would be fine for mixolydian play (as asserted earlier) but would not be so suitable for dorian. The blow-draw pattern in holes 7 and 8 disrupts that octave's spiral pattern. If mixolydian and dorian play are the goal, it would be better to stick to the tuning of Figure 5.

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IaNerd
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Re: Spiral-DLT tuning (a working title)

Post by IaNerd » Mon Oct 25, 2021 9:31 pm

The tuning in Figure 5 (several posts above) was optimised for Dorian play. This one (Figure 6, below) is optimized for Mixolydian play.

download/file.php?mode=view&id=823
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IaNerd
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Re: Spiral-DLT tuning (a working title)

Post by IaNerd » Tue Oct 26, 2021 5:00 pm

Figures 5 and 6 in the posts above (Dorian and Mixolydian, respectively) place the a tonic at the 4 draw. The tuning in Figure 7a (below) also does this but for the Aeolian mode. Figure 7b (also below) shows how these three tunings can be reconsidered by instead placing their respective tonics at the 2 draw. So instead of their octaves being full-full-partial, we now have partial-full-full.

download/file.php?mode=view&id=824
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