Re: [Harp-L] Terms: diatonic



Diatonic means that you're just in one key.

Note layout is a separate concept.

Solo tuning is a note layout that includes all the notes in the scale of that key. Solo tuning gives you a complete diatonic scale in all three octaves, instead of leaving out notes to favor playing chords in the bottom octave. That way you can be a true "soloist" in the melodic sense - you're not comproomising your ability to play melody by leaving out notes so that you can accompany yourself with chords played in the first octave.

Solo tuning was invented before the chromatic. The somebody got the idea to add a second bank of reeds, also in solo tuning, a semitone higher than the first bank of reeds. Between those two diatonic scales you got all the notes of the chromatic scale plus some duplications.

So if you peel away the layers, there is no contradiction in having a solo tuned diatonic.
 
Winslow Yerxa
Author, Harmonica For Dummies ISBN 978-0-470-33729-5
Harmonica instructor, The Jazzschool for Music Study and Performance
Resident expert, bluesharmonica.com
Columnist, harmonicasessions.com


________________________________
 From: Robert Hale <robert@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: harp-L list <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx> 
Sent: Thursday, January 19, 2012 12:44 PM
Subject: [Harp-L] Terms: diatonic
 
>From the NEVER TOO OLD TO LEARN file:

I notice the description of the Huang Cadet at Coast2Coast is
"solo-tuned, diatonic." Sounds contradictory.
So, what exactly is inferred by "diatonic" (Not necessarily equivalent to
Richter?)

Must be "8 tones occurring within the natural scale" of the key?

Robert Hale
Learn Harmonica by Webcam
Low Rates, High Success
http://www.youtube.com/DUKEofWAIL <http://www.youtube.com/user/DUKEofWAIL>
http://www.dukeofwail.com


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