Header Graphic
Dirty-South Blues Harp forum: wail on! > Seydel releases Tony Eyers Major Cross harmonica
Seydel releases Tony Eyers Major Cross harmonica
Login  |  Register
Page: 1

Harmonicatunes
196 posts
Feb 04, 2017
2:19 PM
Around 20 years ago I devised a harmonica tuning for fast bluegrass and Irish tunes, and called it Major Cross. It has Major Scale notes in the second or "cross" position used by most players. Major Cross requires no bending, so fast tunes are much easier to play.

While some players have adopted Major Cross, the instruments have been hard to find.

Not anymore. Seydel have released a Major Cross model, which is now available "off the shelf".

The instrument has a distinctive blue comb. Needless to say, I'm proud to announce my own harmonica model. Check it out at the Seydel Major Cross page, which has video explanations etc. If the page comes up in German, just hit the red "Switch to English" button.

I'm (almost) always the only harmonica player at fast bluegrass and Irish sessions, the Major Cross harmonicas allow me to keep up. Some of you may be joining me soon, now that Major Cross instruments are easily had.

You can get them here
----------
Tony Eyers
Australia
www.HarmonicaAcademy.com
everyone plays...
BC
66 posts
Feb 04, 2017
3:11 PM
Tony:

I predominately play Seydel harmonicas (I own a set of 1847 Nobles and a set of Session Steels). The Seydel Major Cross tuned harp intrigued me. I checked out the link and found this tuning very interesting and potentially useful for folk tunes. I went to the website of my local music chain store where I mainly order my harps, but did not see this tuning offered. Would you happen to know if or when Seydel may have this offered at local music store retailers?

Thanks

BC
http://www.bluesharmonica.com/teacher-accreditation?page=1
Harmonicatunes
197 posts
Feb 04, 2017
4:46 PM
The Major Cross harmonicas were only released a couple of days ago, so I wouldn't expect music stores to stock them. Moreover, being a speciality item, they will probably only be available online. You can order them directly from the Seydel website, at seydel1847.de/majorcross Hit the red "Switch to English" button at the top, then scroll down to the bottom of the page, you'll see where to order them.
----------
Tony Eyers
Australia
www.HarmonicaAcademy.com
everyone plays...
Harmonicatunes
198 posts
Feb 04, 2017
4:49 PM
Also, you can get them from RockinRons, just follow this link
----------
Tony Eyers
Australia
www.HarmonicaAcademy.com
everyone plays...
BC
67 posts
Feb 04, 2017
6:11 PM
Tony:

Thanks. No big rush, so I'll see if the stores eventually sell them. If, not I'll check it out on the site. I also play CBGs with open "G" tuning so this might be a good complimentary harp for rack playing.

BC
http://www.bluesharmonica.com/teacher-accreditation?page=1

Last Edited by BC on Feb 04, 2017 6:12 PM
Harmonicatunes
199 posts
Feb 04, 2017
10:56 PM
Turns out you can also get them at Rockin Rons, at this link

They may show on with other online shops as well.
----------
Tony Eyers
Australia
www.HarmonicaAcademy.com
everyone plays...
Gnarly
2106 posts
Feb 05, 2017
8:44 PM
I have been using this tuning for most of a decade--thanks, Tony!
And congratulations!
Harmonicatunes
200 posts
Feb 05, 2017
8:58 PM
Cheers. I was aware of this, you were a finger when I counted the Major Cross players I knew of. Hopefully now I'll need both hands for this, I may need to remove my sox as well.
----------
Tony Eyers
Australia
www.HarmonicaAcademy.com
everyone plays...
Gnarly
2107 posts
Feb 05, 2017
11:58 PM
Well, then, for all of the players here who are unfamiliar with the tuning--
Standard diatonic harps are tuned to a pattern many of us call "Richter". That's the main diatonic tuning of the 10 hole.
But changes can be made! One useful change is to raise blow 3 a whole step--this tuning is associated with Brendan Power, and is called "Paddy Richter".
And then there is country tuning, associated with Charlie McCoy but likely first used by Joe Leone, which raises 5 draw a half step. This can also be done on hole 9, "double country".
If you combine these two modifications, you have the Melody Maker tuning.
Major Cross takes the Melody Maker tuning and goes all the way! Melody Maker has no missing major scale notes between draw 2 and blow 9--but like Richter, there are missing notes above and below this range.
Here's some charts.

Major Cross Tuning

Hole 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Blow D F# A C E G C E G B
Draw E G B D F# A B D F# A

The standard Richter tuning for a C harmonica is as follows:

Standard "Richter" Tuning
Hole 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Blow C E G C E G C E G C
Draw D G B D F A B D F A


So for Major Cross, Holes 1, 2, and 3 blow are raised a whole step, as is Hole 1 draw. Hole 5 and 9 are raised a half step, and blow 10 is lowered a half step. This gives you an instrument with no missing major scale steps.



So the harp to be retuned is a fourth higher than the new key
e.g.; C for G, A for E, G for D, D for A

Chords produced:
I Draw 2,3,4
ii Blow 3,4,5
iii Draw 3,4,5
IV Blow 4,5,6
V7 Blow 1,2,3,4
vi Draw 1,2,3,4
vii Blow 2,3,4,5

Last Edited by Gnarly on Feb 06, 2017 12:13 AM
Gnarly
2108 posts
Feb 06, 2017
12:20 AM
JSalow
11 posts
Feb 06, 2017
9:27 AM
What holes are/are not bendable in major cross?
Gnarly
2109 posts
Feb 06, 2017
10:03 AM
Draw 1 is, hole 2 isn't, draw 3, 4, 5, and 6 are, 7 isn't, 8, 9, and 10 are.
In this video, I am playing a G Major Cross (and guitar).
Harmonicatunes
201 posts
Feb 06, 2017
3:16 PM
With Major Cross the useful bend are 3 draw (flat 3rd), 4 draw (flat 5th), 5 draw (7th, like Richter tuned 5 draw) and 8 blow.

These bends don't have the expression of a regular Richter tuned harmonica, they're used more to get note for specific tunes. For example, "Over the Waterfall", a bluegrass and old timey standard uses the 5 draw bend.

I don't use Major Cross for blues, to mind mind the regualr tuned harmonicas do a better job. Major Crodd is for tunes. Luckily, most traditional tunes are in G or D, so two Major Cross instruments will cover most situations.
----------
Tony Eyers
Australia
www.HarmonicaAcademy.com
everyone plays...
JSalow
12 posts
Feb 07, 2017
9:11 AM
"I don't use Major Cross for blues, to mind mind the regualr tuned harmonicas do a better job. "

I agree. But I asked because I do see bends for expression as being useful for bluegrass as well.
barbequebob
3380 posts
Feb 07, 2017
10:20 AM
This tuning looks almost like a blending of circular tuning and country tuning (which before they were a production line item, used to be called major 7th harps). Sounds like it could be quite useful for more jazzier situations, espeicially since that uses major 7ths more.
----------
Sincerely,
Barbeque Bob Maglinte
Boston, MA
http://www.barbequebob.com
CD available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bbmaglinte
Gnarly
2110 posts
Feb 07, 2017
11:52 AM
@barbequebob
That is a good description.
BC
68 posts
Feb 07, 2017
6:21 PM
Just ordered one from Rockin Ron's. Price was good and free shipping, so can't beat that. He seems to carry the unique Seydel tunings that can't be had at the local music chain stores. Will need to get used to the changed holes (tell my brain this is not a C harp), but this should be great for playing non-blues tunes/melodies. Plan to rack this harp up to accompany my 4-string CBG. Really looking forward breaking out and trying something a bit different.

BC
http://www.bluesharmonica.com/teacher-accreditation?page=1


Post a Message



(8192 Characters Left)


Modern Blues Harmonica supports

§The Jazz Foundation of America

and

§The Innocence Project

 

 

 

ADAM GUSSOW is an official endorser for HOHNER HARMONICAS