Optimized Blues Tuning
Features and Layout

Playing patterns of Richter and Optimized Blues Tuning in comparison

Comparison of playing patterns in tablature

Alternative for Chord Rhythm

Positions of Optimized Blues Tuning

Features and Layout → Top of Page

Based on the cross played Richter Tuning in blues harp manner this concept optimizes the diatonic harp for unlimited playing of blues as well as for chromatic playing of jazz and jazz blues.

The Optimized provides

•  all important notes in blues1 as mainly draw notes for optimal forming of tone (1 2 b3 3 4 b5 5 6 b7 8)

— On the cross played Richter Tuning sixth and root note are blow notes in the upper octave.

•  evenly allocated drawbends for constant bluesy sound and ergonomic flow of playing (1 2 b3 3 4 b5 5 6 b7 8)

— he cross played Richter Tuning features only the 2, b3 and b5 and these only in the lower octave as drawbends; in the upper octave the b3 has to be played as an overblow and the b5 as an overdraw.

•  an unchanging allocation of notes in every octave

— The Richter Tuning requires a different pattern of playing in every octave.

•  chromatic playing exclusively by additional drawbends (1 b2 2 b3 3 4 b5 5 b6 6 b7 7 8)

— The Richter Tuning requires draw bends, blow bends, overblows und overdraws for chromatic playing.

•  fundamental chords (partly by limitation on first, third and tension):
I (Ij7)     IV- (IV-11)     V (V13)     bVII- (bVII-7)     bII (bII13)     III-

An example of the tuning in A:

A (Aj7)       D- (D-11)       E (E13)       G- (G-7)       Bb (Bb13)       C#-

— The cross played Richter Tuning lacks especially the dominant chord.

Optimized Blues Tuning in A

 Blow G3A#3D4F4G4 A#4D5F5G5A#5
12345678910
 Drawbend -1 B3F#4B4F#5B5
 Drawbend -½ G#3C4D#4G4G#4C5D#5G5 G#5C6
 DrawA3C#4E4G#4A4C#5 E5G#5A5C#6
 Overblows A#3D4F4A4A#4D5F5A5 A#5D6

As the optimized note arrangement repeats in every ovtave, the octave pattern can be variably positioned on the harmonica.

For example a Marine Band 364/24 in A that begins with the fifth of the octave pattern in hole 1 draw:
 Hole 123456 789101112
 Blow d3f3g3a#3d4f4g4 a#4d5f5g5a#5
 Draw e3g#3a3c#4e4g#4a4 c#5e5g#5a5c#6

Octave pattern of the Optimized Blues Tuning
Playing patterns of Richter and Optimized Blues Tuning in comparison → Top of Page

The octave pattern of Blues Optimized tuning begins in the following scheme similar to the second position of the Richter tuning in hole 2.

Blues Scale on the Optimized Blues Tuning:
 Hole 12345 678910
 Blow b6b7b24b6b7b24 b6b7
 Whole tone bend 2626
 ½-bend b3b5 b7b3b5b7
 Draw 713571 3571

Blues Scale on the Richter Tuning:
 Hole 12345 678910
 Overdraw b5
 Blow 46146146 14
 Blowbend
 1½-bend
 Whole tone bend 2
 ½-bend b3b5
 Draw 5135b723 5b72
 Overblow b3


Dorian Blues Scale on the Optimized Blues Tuning:
 Hole 12345 678910
 Blow b6b7b24b6b7b24 b6b7
 Whole tone bend 2626
 ½-bend b3b5 b7b3b5b7
 Draw 713571 3571

Dorian Blues Scale on the Richter Tuning:
 Hole 12345 678910
 Overdraw b5
 Blow 46146146 14
 Blowbend
 1½-bend
 Whole tone bend 2
 ½-bend b3b5
 Draw 5135b723 5b72
 Overblow b3


Chromatic Scale on the Optimized Blues Tuning:
 Hole 12345 678910
 Blow b6b7b24b6b7b24 b6b7
 Whole tone bend 2626
 ½-bend b3b5 b7b3b5b7
 Draw 713571 3571

Chromatic Scale on the Richter Tuning:
 Hole 12345 678910
 Overdraw b5
 Blow 46146146 14
 Blowbend b67
 1½-bend b2
 Whole tone bend 2
 ½-bend b3b5b2
 Draw 5135b723 5b72
 Overblow b67b3
Comparison of playing patterns in tablature → Top of Page

Notes abbbcc#dd#eff#gg# abbbcc#dd#eff#gg# abbbcc#
Blues Scale 1b34 b55b7 1b34 b55b7 1b3
Optimized "A" 1o2o↓3-3o↓3o 4o↓ 5o6o↓7-7o↓7o 8o↓ 9o10o↓
5- 9-
Richter "D cross" 2o3o↓4-4o↓4o 5o 6-6ob7-7od8o 9o 9-10bb
Dorian Blues Scale 12b34 b556b7 12b34 b556b7 12b3
Optimized "A" 1o2o↓²2o↓3-3o↓3o 4o↓²4o↓ 5o6o↓²6o↓7-7o↓7o 8o↓²8o↓ 9o10o↓²10o↓
5- 9-
Richter "D cross" 2o3o↓²3o↓4-4o↓4o 5-5o 6-6o6ob7-7od8o 8-9o 9-10o10bb
Chromatic Scale 1b22b334 b55b66b77 1b22b334 b55b66b77 1b22b33
Optimized "A" 1o2-2o↓²2o↓2o3-3o↓3o4- 4o↓²4o↓4o 5o6-6o↓²6o↓6o7-7o↓7o8- 8o↓²8o↓8o 9o10-10o↓²10o↓10o
5-5o↓ 9-9o↓
Richter "D cross" 2o3o↓³3o↓²3o↓3o4-4o↓4o 4ob5-5o5ob 6-6o↓6o6ob7o7-7od8o 8bb8-9o9bb 9-9od10o10bb10bb

Key
Blow note:1-1½-bend:1o↓³
Draw note:1oOverblow:1ob
½-bend:1o↓Overdraw:1od
Whole tone bend:1o↓²Blowbend:1bb
Beginning from here the blow notes are higher than the draw notes
Alternative for Chord Rhythm → Top of Page
On the Alternative for Chord Rhythm there is the 6 in place of the b6 - on the A harp in hole 2- the f#3 in place of the f3:
 Hole 123456 789101112
 Blow d3f#3g3a#3d4f4g4 a#4d5f5g5a#5
 Draw e3g#3 a3c#4 e4g#4a4 c#5e5g#5a5c#6
Tonic Subdominant Dominant
→ Pop up: Positions of Optimized Blues Tuning → Top of Page


1 As summed up in the Dorian Blues Scale plus the major third. The Dorian Blues Scale expands the blues scale with the major second and the major sixth. (1 2 b3 4 b5 5 6 b7 8 ↑