Melody Maker,and other altered tunings

[Rich35]

 Hi All and AJ
  Question for You All, in this Diatonic section ,we have a Tremolo section,How about a section just for Melody Maker and other  altered Tunings.
   what do You All think About Idea  ?

[Keith]

Could be handy if you like to play with, or try out,  alternative tunings - it only takes someone to start it....

[SlideMeister]

I've actually been trying to "thin" the boards down lately. I don't play one but I thought Tremelos are basically double reeded diatonics anyway, no?

[smojoe]

anyway. No?
yes
I think the first harmonica I ever tried was a tremello. I used to lip the upper and lower rows in an attempt to get the individual notes. It was really tough working with those little 3/16" x 1/8" (4.5 x 3 mm) holes. I gave up on it after a few days and the old guy who I 'thought' GAVE it to me, asked for it back. Saul Good Man.

smo-j.

[Gnarly He Man]

I hate tremolo harmonicas. 
I know that diatonics are the red headed step child on this board, I might start an alternate tuned board on Facebook.
There probably already is one!

[Rich35]

 Guys
 I was just trying to see any interest in a melody maker and altered harmonica section
 No trashing tremolo harmonica,s was intended .
  If no interest just say so and I will drop subject.

[Edward Brock]

Since I don't care for LO's in general I am probably Not the best one
to offer to get on board for the Melody Maker idea.
As far as I'm concerned this one diatonic section is enough since the
Whole SlideMeister idea was originally created specifically for the
Chromatic Harmonica Fans.
While I DO have several Diatonic harps & like a lot them for certain things
I have to make way for any others who might have favorable comments.
Just my personal feelings.

[Gnarly He Man]

I did find a board on FB for alternate tunings.
I tune chromatics weird too!

[Crawforde]

I like the melody maker idea.
But I only have about 15 minutes of experience with it so have nothing to contribute, yet.
I bet it would be a nice retune for a Koch or other slider based on richter.

[dougharps]

SlideMeister is a chromatic centric forum, and that is fine with me.

Having separate bass and chord boards make sense, as does having the diatonic board.

Additional specialty boards don't seem necessary, unless there are a great many polyphonia or harmonetta players seeking separate boards. 


I think that individual threads on the diatonic board can adequately discuss tremolo, alternate tunings, etc.


Doug S.

[wolfman]

  Well put Doug.

  Roman

[drifter]

A Moothie is just a Moothie!  I don't differentiate between makes, models or tunings.
As far as I am concerned a chromatic is same instrument as a Melody Maker, tremolo    or even a new digital harmonica (wish I could afford one!)  I really don't understand why this divisive concept exists within the harmonica community.

[Keith]

Actually, a lot of tremolos are solo tuned, as against Richter tuned, but happy to have a thread under 'diatonic', as they are not chromatic, which is what this site is all about.

In my first comment I just meant to start a thread, such as this, & let everyone that wants to, just discuss them here.

It's great that the boss lets us talk about non chromatics at all. 

[Rich35]

 Hi Keith
  Exactly what I intended to ask folks that play melody makers ,seydel,s version of altered tune harmonica and altered in general .info on them in one place ,In the diatonic section
with own thread I guess is the right term . I play Chromatic,s tremolo,s and diatonic,s and
 really just registered with me the altered tunings . My Question was really simple of those that play or interested in altered tuned ,would like a common place e to look,and if a few people said Yes ,I would see if it was possible. Very simple no divisiveness was intended!

[John Broecker]

Hello, Rich35.

One person's opinion:

You have a valid request for a Altered Harmonicas Fan Club. But, 
altered harmonicas are usually either diatonic or chromatic harps.
They already have locations at SlideMeister.

Here are 4 valuable, FREE web sites for an in-depth listing of altered-tuning
and experimental reed placements harmonicas, chromatics and diatonics:

www.patmissin.com   (a listing, and some discussion by Pat Missin)

https://www.scribd.com/document/111434406/Anthoogy-of-Harmonica-Tuning
(compiled by Eugene Ivanov, uses Missin's site as a reference, plenty of discussion
by Eugene). This 69-page book is freely downloadable, in Scribd's 30-day free trial.

www.seydelusa.com   
(look for the Harp Configurator section, you customize your own reed placement,
to be custom-made by Seydel).

www.leeoskar.com     
(Lee Oskar harps are diatonic, single reed, standard production, not experimental,
but Lee has clear descriptions of major key harps; 2 types of minor key harps; and
1 altered major key harp reed placement).

Thanks, Rich, for your request. We may discuss altered tunings of diatonics here
under your title: Melody Maker, and Other Altered Tunings. For chromatic harps,
we may discuss them in the chromatic harps sections.

Some altered tuning diatonic harps are listed by Ivanov and Missin as tremolo harps, octave
harps, harmony harps (Hohner Johnny and Seydel Hochlandsklange are discontinued) and
other double reed (per note) diatonic harmonicas. We are free to discuss experimental tuning
diatonic harps here, under your descriptive title.

Thanks for the opportunity.

Best Regards

John Broecker
Sussex, Wisconsin, USA

[Rich35]

 
John
 Thanks for the Great info ,
  I have played my Chromatic,s for a few Years ,and just like to switch it up,and  the
 Altered tune harps are interesting way to do it .
   And You gave me lots of places to get info
     

[John Broecker]

Hello, Rich35.

The phrase, "Altered Tunings" has 2 definitions:
   1. Change of spellings from a standard scale, such as standard F-A-C to F#-A-C;
       such as in Lee Oskar harps (changing the reed pitches at the factory).
   2. Change of reed placements from a standard scale, such as standard Richter
       system harp reed placement to a zircular system (keeping the spelling, but
       in a different placement, done at the factory).

The only diatonic altered Seydel harps that I currently own are a Seydel Blues Session
Zircular (Circular, Spiral reed placement) in G; and Pulmonica, a Zircular, in very low G.
Both have brass reeds, 10 mouthpiece holes, plastic comb. Both are #2 definition above.

I also own altered diatonic Suzuki Pipe-Humming harps, expertly re-tuned by SlideMeister
Gnarly (Gary Lehman), from standard Richter system reed placement to Paddy Richter
(definition #1 above).

Best Regards

JB

[Rich35]

 
Hi All
  Another question  ,lee osker melody makers ,when I play say house of the rising sun, it plays out  very Smokey  it is in 2nd position, and to me sounds Great, Now my question  cross tuning
 Does it have same effect ? Or is cleaner sounding tuning ? How is cross tuned different ?
   Thanks
  Rich

[Rich35]

 Hi All
 Been working and learning the melody maker and having a Ball, then today received
 a manji   major cross tuned  to E harp ,and sounds different from my melody makers .
  The lower octave sounds cleaner less Smokey than the melody makers, waiting on my
  Paddy tuned harps to come . For a change these harps so far to me are Great and 2 octaves
  When reading or ear playing is nicely different from normal diatonic,s.
 And no its not a Chromatic ,but nice to PLAY.

[Crawforde]

This is a good reference for investigating alternate tunings before the trouble of retuning or buying one.
https://web.archive.org/web/20150218134912/http://overblow.com/?menuid=26#

[John Broecker]

Crawforde, thanks for the link.

The overblow website (not your
recommended address above) is
not in service, so your overblow
link is welcome.

JB

[Gnarly He Man]

Tinus Koorn!
Wish the chromatic version was available.

[Rich35]

 
 Hi All
  Another Question on altered Tuning, melody Makers and Major Cross tuned Diatonic , 2 draw  on a key of c is C which starts 2 octaves ,that draw c
 is in notation on added ledger line on Bottom then thru 1st octave in second so that in  looking at any song in notation if you have the notes both octaves are are usable in the song , a song in G use a Key of G melody maker or major cross harp and again read 2 octaves of song notation starting on draw 2 for G
  What can I say I am thick headed ,
    Thanks
   Rich
   

[Rich35]

Hi All
 Well I have played around with alter tuned 10 hole diatonic,s for  a couple of month's now and
 I have several paddy tuned Eastops from Danny G , several Lee Osker  melody makers and   several major crossed tunes that Gary tuned for me , each a little different ,but once You get the breathing patterns down , they really bring diatonic harp to a new Level for Me , Along  side  My Chromatic Harps .
  Just a update on my Journey with Harmonica,s
  Rich

[Crawforde]

Fun ain’t it? Addictive too.
Paddy is the tuning I’m most familiar with. I have made them in Low C, EB, D, and G, and a LLF.
They really shine in the low keys where the bends are a bit more difficult and slower for me.
I also have a 4-key somewhere, I really liked that but misplaced it during a hurricane.
Welcome to even more harmonica chaos.
I have yet to mess with my melody maker much, but I have made a small list of tunes to learn that should lay out nicely on it and I’m going to put it in my work bag to play with during moments while windows 10 is crashing, or when I’m sitting at a site waiting for someone to show up.
I like to half-valve my diatonics with single layer valve  or PT Gazelle type microfiber  valves. Then you get even more expression and a couple more notes. But none of the chromatic valve hassles (I’ll use those if I have to though).

[Gnarly He Man]

I made a couple of altered Diatonics to play the chords to Maiden Voyage, the chords are all sus7 (and there are four of them, hence two Diatonics).
And today I spoke with Winslow, he has a diatonic in a similar tuning, it’s one of the Magic harmonicas that Magic Dick and Pierre Beauregard came up with—tuned in fourths.
He has had Hohner make them in different keys, and has put them together in one of Brendan Power Switch harps. There is a video on Facebook, pm me if you want to see it—from SPAH.
List member Boaz gets a bass solo!

[smojoe]

That would be really interesting to hear Gnarly. Maiden Voyage on harmonica. It would seem, to me at least, that this would be tantamount to doing Stolen Moments. The structures seem quite involved?

And I see a problem. When making chords or extended chords, on a keyboard, a player can bring their fingers down at slightly different times. So that they are 'walking into' the chords. This sets a different mood than, say, just plunking down all the keys/notes at the same time. Can a harmonica DO this? When I listen to Satie's, DeBusey's, Chopin's stuff I hear walking chords. So too with Hancock and he has the other instruments meshing chords WITH him.

Me thinks it would take several harmonicas to accomplish this? Of course, as usual, if someone is to make me a complete blithering drooling idiot, that would be swell.

smo-joe 

[Gnarly He Man]

Yeah, you can't really do it like you would on guitar or piano, but I am happy enough with the tunings.
Here's a video.
https://youtu.be/1cGhtPP6Jz4

[IaNerd]

This variant of MM has a useful additional chord:  https://www.brendan-power.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=616#p2739