"High Octane" blues tuning for 12-hole 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!
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IaNerd
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"High Octane" blues tuning for 12-hole harp

Post by IaNerd »

NAME: "HIgh Octane" blues tuning for 12-hole harp

BASIC CONCEPT:
In recent months I have devised a number of tunings which feature “the” minor hexatonic blues scale. A few days ago it dawned on me that, in doing so, my thinking was restricted to the I chord (my default for this is Gmaj) of a I-IV-V progression. I was therefore neglecting to consider the Eb and F# of the Cmaj blues scale, and the Ab and A of the Dmaj blues scale.

This tuning features:

1. The I chord.
2. The IV chord.
3. The V chord and its b7th.
4. The minor hexatonic blues scale of the I chord (playable without tricky bends or overblows).
5. The minor hexatonic blues scale of the IV chord (playable without tricky bends or overblows).
6. The minor hexatonic blues scale of the V chord (playable without tricky bends or overblows).
7. Some tasty draw bends and enharmonics.

WHEN/HOW: October of 2017. I have not yet had one made.

LAYOUT/DETAILS:


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IaNerd
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Re: "High Octane" blues tuning for 12-hole harp

Post by IaNerd »

One day later, I believe this to be an improvement. Note that we now have a second Gmaj chord and its b7th.


LAYOUT/DETAILS:

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Last edited by IaNerd on Sat Oct 28, 2017 6:53 pm, edited 3 times in total.
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IaNerd
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Re: "High Octane" blues tuning for 12-hole harp

Post by IaNerd »

ADDENDUM #1:
If a new chamber/hole were inserted between the existing channels 3 and 4, then the new channel 4 blow tone could be a Bb. This would give the Cmaj chord of channels 1-3 a b7th, and therefore ALL chords of the I-IV-V progression could be played as 7th chords. Pretty cool.

This would make the overall harp a 13-holer.

There may be a way to get it back down to 12 holes overall. My guess is that this would involve some changes to chambers 10-12.
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IaNerd
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Re: "High Octane" blues tuning for 12-hole harp

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ADDENDUM #2:
The draw note of that added channel 4 (see ADDENDUM #1) should be an F. This would make the b7th of the Gmaj of 1-3 draw.
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Re: "High Octane" blues tuning for 12-hole harp

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The 13-hole version of this tuning, envisioned in the two posts above, can be found at "Extra High Octane" blues tuning for 13-hole harp .
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Re: "High Octane" blues tuning for 12-hole harp

Post by IaNerd »

For the sake of making clear comparisons, I will now call the tuning of the October 27 post (which began this Topic, above) as "Gen 1".

The post from October 28 (above) will be called "Gen 2".

I now offer Gen 3 and Gen 4 of this 12-hole "High Octane" tuning. These two are nearly identical (but details matter)!

I would very much appreciate any constructive thoughts you have about these four Generations. Your feedback/input is welcomed as posts and/or pms.

And now for Gen 3 and Gen 4:


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Re: "High Octane" blues tuning for 12-hole harp

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Please say hello to Gen 5:


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Re: "High Octane" blues tuning for 12-hole harp

Post by IaNerd »

Gen 6 (below) combines all of the features of my other "high octane" tunings PLUS a low-Richter "octave" in a 12-hole format.


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