beginers trying to understand the best tuning to play blues
Tue, 04/17/2018 - 07:50
Hi
i was reading about types of tuning: compromissed, just intonation, equal temperament.
i read and i didnt understand much....lots of doubts.
but my question is: since each model of harmonica has a type of tuning, what tuning/model should i use to have a great blues sound?
in other words: i believe that marine band deluxe, marine band 1896, suziki promaster, suzuki olive, maji, seydel's... each one model has a type of tuning (just intonation, equal temperamet....). so wich one of this types of tuning is best for blues sound?
if i know the best type of tuning for blues, and i know wich harmonica has this type of tuning, i may know wich harmonica has the best sound for blues (right?).
thanks!
The classic blues recordings from the 1920s through the 1960s were made with harmonicas tuned to 7-limit just intonation.
The ony harmonica model I know of that uses this intonation nowadays is the Hering 1923. While just intonation makes chords sound smooth and big, this version of just makes Draw 5 sound very flat (because it is) as a melody note even though it sounds great in the main draw chord.
The basic Marine Band is close to 7-limit just but tempers the Draw 5 to sound more in tune melodically. The same is true of the Marine Band Deluxe, Rocket, and Seydel 1847.
Compromise temperaments trry to nudge closer to equal temperament while avoiding losing too much of the smooth chord sound of just intonation. A wide variety of harmonica models, including the Crossover, are in some sort of compromise tuning that involves not only Draw 5 and 9, but also Draw 3 and 7 and Blow 2, 5, and 8, putting all of them sharper than in just intonation.
Equal temperament is great for pianos, but on harmonicas make the chords sound rough and out of tune. Blues players tend to avoid it, although jazz players favor it because it helps them stay in tune melodically even when they play in weird positions.
You can read more detail from Pat Missin at:
http://www.patmissin.com/tunings/tun6.html
Make sure to click on the link to reviews of individual harmonica models, which gives information on their temperaments.