OK I'm mostly about blues, and rock, a bit of folk, and I do like jazz.... However, more and more I'm liking some 'country' flavour,as there are a few notable Aussie country stars around my area. Anyway, having only used richter tuned harps all my life, I think it's high time I ventured into the wonderful world of alternative tunings!! I'm waiting on one of Jim's true chroms, but like I said, I want a country tuned harp. Now the bluegrass I like, and find 2nd pos the go usually. My question is, what key is a good start, and how do various positions fit? Anyone prefer a particular brand of country tuned harp? Thanx in advance harp brothers and sisters, hope you're all having a good festive season! :~)
Last Edited by on Dec 26, 2010 2:35 PM
ok, I'll keep on wondering....:~) or maybe I could retune an existing harp? Do the country dudes use this tuning? Pardon my ignorance....
Last Edited by on Dec 27, 2010 4:16 AM
This tuning is useful for melody playing in 2nd position - you'll got almost full major scale (in standard richter you have mixolidian scale - with flatted 7th). I think Charlie McCoy using this tuning, Buddy Greene also using it sometimes. As far as i know - you can get stock Hohner Special 20 in country tuning, also you can get Seydels, Lee Oscars in this tuning.
The country tuning is tempting, and i think for some players that can be a nice and easy way to play major song in second...Having said that, I think that you may think about playing in 12th position (if your bends are in tune, a very useful position for country music) or learning and practicing overblows,
---------- Never try to be as good as someone else, succeed to be the best player you can be!
I would look into some books by Charlie McCoy. He has a DVD also. Usually the country tuning helps with melodies. The country tuning lets you keep the juicy bends in hole 3 while you can play major in 2nd position. You can also get the b7 by bending the raised note in hole 5. Here is a country tune that used Richter tuning.
---------- Emile "Diggs" D'Amico a Legend In His Own Mind How you doin'
The country tuning is also nice for playing in 5th position, where you would normally avoid the 5 draw, but not on a CT harp.
Lee Oskar does not make a Country Tuned harp, but you can make your own plus a paddy richter tuned harp buy buying the LO Major (Richter) harp and a LO Melody Maker with the same blow note, and swap either the top or bottom reed plates.
Lee Oskar labels the MM harps in 2nd position, so for example, a G Major and D MM harp would give you a CT G harp and a Paddy Richter tuned G harp. This CT harp would have both the 5 draw and 9 draw raised a semi-tone (half step). I think the Hohners CT harp just has the 5 draw modified.
And if you don't like them, you can reswap the reed plates without filing any reeds and be back where you started.
Hey thanks guys for your input! Just been out fishing with the missus ( and as so often happens, she catches the fish!! ) :~) @ Jim, extra chords sounds good! @ Orm, gonna check out the Seydels... @ Christel, 12th pos ok! I'm a comfortable bender, but my overblows need more development. I'll look into 12th. @ Diggs, I will check out more Charlie McCoy. It would be good to utulize a 5hole bend.. @Airmojo, your idea sounds good but whilst I will always love them, these days I'm having a break from the LO's. 5th pos sounds good though.. @ Virtue, thanx mate but I get a bit lost with charts like that, I know I should endeavour to understand more theory! Thanks again, I'm gonna check out some Seydels I think, I suppose I should start with a C.
P.S. I'm not thinking of starting Modern Country Harmonica!
Country tuning was developed by one of Charlie McCoy's fans. Charlie had switched harps on a record so that he could get the Major 7th degree of the scale while playing in second position. For instance, if here were playing in D on a G harp, to get the C# in that scale instead of the C natural that's in Draw 5 of a G-harp, he would switch to a D harp and play Draw 3 (and probably some notes before and after in that same phrase).
The fan approached Charlie and said "I figured out how you did that! You tuned the Draw 5 up a semitone!" To which Charlie replied, "I didn't do that before, but I will from now on!"
in 5th it gives you the 9th in draw 5 instead of the flat 9. 5 draw is something of an 'avoid' note for 5th on a standard-tuned harp
Last Edited by SuperBee on Sep 20, 2018 7:54 PM
CT is pretty interesting study. Just one semitone changes quite a lot it becomes easier to play 2nd like 1st, with a major 7, but with a bonus minor 3rd available as a draw bend. 3rd plays more like 2nd with a flat 7 and the major 3rd which can also bend to minor. 4th is capable of providing a full major scale and 5th can deliver fully minor, Dorian or mixolydian. 6th which is normally diminished can give Dorian.
1st and 12th are a little more awkward 1st is still major but you lose the easy 4th in 5 draw which becomes a flat 5th until you bend to get the 4th. 12th is also much the same except for the need to bend 5 draw to get the tonic.
Last Edited by SuperBee on Sep 23, 2018 11:55 PM
