Lee Oskar Altered Tuning Harps
I have just been to a harmonica workshop from Lee Oskar where he discussed his alternatively tuned harps.
Has anyone tried these? Any thoughts? I am looking at trying the natural minor one to plays some minor blues.
I bought one of his harps that in 1st position it is in the key of D and second position is in the key of A. I play mainly folk music and it gives a good twist and sound to the melody. The reeds are replaceable and are made of steel.
I own one of the Natural A Minor Lee Oskars (1st pos Dm, 2nd pos Am). I appreciate the idea of alternatively tuned harmonicas, but I feel like I'm cheating when I play it because all I'm doing is playing all my 1st/2nd pos licks on the minor key harp when I should be practicing my 3rd/4th pos licks on the major key harp.
There's a lot more to the alternate tuned harps, it's not cheating if u understand the theory an advantages.... Just another tool.
Lee Oskar reeds are brass, not steel. Says so on his website. The covers are stainless steel.
One thing about alternate tunings is you get different chords from standard tuning. Sure you can learn all the positions, bends, overbends, and techniques to combine notes to play any scale or key on a standard diatonic. And it's all good. But if you want to chord heavily in a minor key, then a minor-tuned harp will give a lot more to work with.
Hi,
I can personally recommend Steve Lockwood if you would like some advice on how to approach alternatively tuned LO harps. He is based near Cambridge uk, but also does Skype lessons worldwide. G