I understand some tunings are different in this harmonica . If I use this harmonica will it not confuse me ? I mean playing this and some times normal diatonic harmonicas ?
For playing with guitar and for none blues is this necessary ?
I use the one he labels as Em...I play it in the key of G...also in the key of Am.
It sat in the draw for a couple of years till I spent the time to chart out the notes and was surprised that the key of G had a layout of notes on it. I think the notes are pitched the same a pitch pipe as opposed to compromise, but others may have better info. I try to play it with a light touch,as best I can, tight with the vocals on one song in particular.
He labels his harmonicas in a way that can seem confusing.
other companies have minor keys available these days
Here's a rundown of altered notes on the Melody Maker. Hole 3 blow (it's the same note as draw 2) gets raised a whole step, so now there is no missing note on hole 3. That's the note that is added to Paddy Richter--on a C harmonica, the G note on blow 3 gets raised to an A. Draw 5 gets raised a half step, F changed to F#, so now 2nd position is major--particularly if you also raise draw 9, which the Melody Maker does. This C instrument has just become a G harp, 2nd position but major.
I got a few of them last Christmas thinking I would use them a lot. I ended up tuning the F harp ("C" in Melody Maker terminology) into a low F. I dont really use them at all. They definitely have their place, but the chords dont work for my ear and octaves are screwey. I bought a melodica for melodies instead as I'm a piano player.
Buy the "C" melody maker and if you dont like it just tune it down and you get a regular diatonic harp in low F of you dont already have one.
BTW- This was my first foray into Lee Oskar. I liked them a lot. Overblows to squeal like people say however.
"You won't get confused if you take the time to learn why it's different and where it's useful to play". ------------------------------
they work well with Maj 7 chords [those are the pretty sounding chords] used more in jazzzy stuff--
I use one on Georgia on my mind and 'whats goin on" Marvin gaye==
Most jams etc use G7 etc not Gmaj7-[G 7 is gritty sounding-good for blues
Personally if u want to try an altered tuning get an E nat minor harp and try it over Thrill is gone when its in Bm [ the most common key] I sing better in Cm so thats what I do---and I use an Fnat minor harp in the rack-
If u get a Lee oscar be aware he labels them differently ----I think he would label --[What I call an Enat minor]-- a B nat minor- u want 1 blow to be "E"
it takes a couple weeks months etc to adjust your ears with altered tunings --but when u blow minor chords on a nat minor harp it sounds really good
I got into them because when u play with a rack --I want easy accessed notes===
now the difference between my richter tuned, nat minor tuned and my melody sounds completely natural to me---Even when I practice with my chromatic its fine
MUSCLE MEMORY AMD EAR MEMORY HAPPENS TO EVERYONE WHETHER U REALIZE IT OR NOT--- but u have to not give up cuz it sounds different
Last Edited by snowman on Mar 22, 2018 7:44 PM
