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Dirty-South Blues Harp forum: wail on! > Hole 10 - would you miss it ?
Hole 10 -  would you miss it ?
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Roverharp
70 posts
Jul 09, 2019
8:27 AM
I’m trying out a couple of alternate tunings that allow for more expression but necessarily lessen the range at the top end.

Assuming you use the top octave could you get by for the most part without the notes from Hole 10 or would you feel that gives up too much ?
nacoran
10143 posts
Jul 09, 2019
12:27 PM
I think I like having the top holes, at least as an option. That doesn't mean I always use them but there are neat things you can do at the end of an energetic song going up an octave. (Still, looking forward to trying the little 7 hole Kongsheng) But just because you have a harmonica in a different tuning doesn't mean you can't have one in standard tuning too. (And of course, you could always play with the tuning on a longer harp. Hohner isn't making a 14 holer anymore, but 12s and 13s are still available.

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First Post- May 8, 2009
Gnarly
2673 posts
Jul 09, 2019
3:57 PM
I do a bunch of retuning of harmonicas, and some of them will omit notes above hole 7.
Like a hybrid G I created, here's the chart.
B E G B D G B D G B
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
D F# A D F# A C E F# A

This is an alternative to a high G, leaves off the top two holes.

Last Edited by Gnarly on Jul 09, 2019 3:58 PM
SuperBee
6054 posts
Jul 09, 2019
4:56 PM
I’d miss it.
But there’s no law says you can only play one layout
WinslowYerxa
1647 posts
Jul 09, 2019
5:52 PM
Heck, I miss Holes 11 and 12 on a 10-hole harp!
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Last Edited by WinslowYerxa on Jul 09, 2019 5:52 PM
Gnarly
2674 posts
Jul 09, 2019
9:56 PM
Um, there are no . . .
My head hurts--
John M G
312 posts
Jul 10, 2019
4:03 AM
You'd be losing a very expressive pair of notes especially for 1st and 3rd position blues!
The Iceman
3884 posts
Jul 10, 2019
7:33 AM
Would I miss it? Depends on what new possibilities are offered down below it...
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The Iceman
IaNerd
62 posts
Jul 10, 2019
12:16 PM
Iceman: Good point!
Honkin On Bobo
1514 posts
Jul 10, 2019
12:42 PM
Or as I call it: Hole 10 From Hell.

But then again, I refer to holes 9, 8 and 7 the same way.
Roverharp
71 posts
Jul 11, 2019
3:44 AM
That is a good point Iceman. The tuning borrows from PowerBender tuning but also has its own quirks. Here it is:

C. E. G. C. E. F. A. C. E. G
D. G. B. D. F. G. B. D. D. F

I suppose a lot of players would use a regular breath pattern and get rid of the double D’s on holes eight and nine. I like the tactile feel of blow bends at the top so I retained Richter’s breath direction change.

A country version might look like this:

C. E. G. C. E... G.. A. C.. E G
D. G. B. D. F#. A. .B. D. . D. F

In all variants you basically sacrifice the two top notes for extra bends.

Last Edited by Roverharp on Jul 11, 2019 4:01 AM
jbone
2967 posts
Jul 11, 2019
12:12 PM
Depending on key, I do use the top holes either in 1st or 3rd. You can do what you want, I will remain a player who runs what he bought from some fine makers and sellers.
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