How would you tune this Starter or EasyPlay harp?

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: 598
Joined: Thu Aug 10, 2017 6:42 pm
Location: Iowa, USA

How would you tune this Starter or EasyPlay harp?

Post by IaNerd »

BASIC IDEA:

THIS IS NOT A REAL THING!
THIS IS NOT A REAL THING!
THIS IS NOT A REAL THING!
THIS IS NOT A REAL THING!

It is a digital representation of a fantasy of a real thing!

In my mind it would be full-length (i.e. same as a 10-holer).

Anyway, how would you tune it for beginners, klutzes or very occasional/casual players?

SixHolerSmaller_.jpg
SixHolerSmaller_.jpg (19.46 KiB) Viewed 6867 times
User avatar
Brendan
Posts: 883
Joined: Fri Mar 24, 2017 2:28 pm
Contact:

Re: How would you tune this Starter or EasyPlay harp?

Post by Brendan »

With such a small number of holes I'd want to maximise the range whilst keeping the scale simple for beginners, plus giving nice double-stop and chord intervals.

This semi-pentatonic tuning ticks all those boxes. I've used it myself for a number of years. It's actually the bottom end of Paddy Richter repeated up the harp. I call it Paddy Richter Extended:

CD. EG. AB. CD. EG. AB

Here are the advantages:

Big range: two octaves in 6 holes
Small jumps for wide intervals
Tuning repeats in each octave, easy to learn
Even breath pattern, draw always above blow
All draw notes bend, very expressive
Two major pentatonic scales without bends (C & G)
Two major pentatonic scales w one bend (F & D)
Two minor pentatonic scales without bends (Am & Em)
Two minor pentatonic scales w one bend (Dm & Bm)
Harmonious double-stops, fifths and thirds

It would suit this basic 6-hole harmonica well, but also works nicely on single-reed diatonic or chromatics. On a slide harmonica I'd tune it to a Slide Diatonic, where the slider raises each note to the next in the scale. Since it repeats every 3 holes, here is one octave:

Slide out: CD. EG. AB.
Slider in: DE. GA. BC.

That gives more nice draw bends with slide in, as well as extra easy scales.

Simply raising each note a semitone gives nearly full chromatic ability with slide action, just one bend required to get all 12 notes:

Slide out: C D... E G... A B.
Slide in: C#D#. FG#. A#C

You could get full slide chromaticism by combining slide-up and slide-down tuning to omit the doubled C and get the F#:

Slide out: C D... E G... A B.
Slide in: C#D#. FF#. G#A#

Apologies, I've kind of extrapolated from the initial topic here! Interested to see what other options folks come up with for a 6-hole harp.
Post Reply