Richter tuning

Country tuning raises the initial F by a semitone to an F♯. This primarily aids in harmony in the key of G, facilitating easy play of the G-C-D (I-IV-V) chord progression, while maintaining a partial G7 (minus the root) higher on the harmonica. It can occasionally be helpful in some melodies, most notably "The Star-Spangled Banner," which has a low F# and a high F. For example:

hole	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
blow note	C	E	G	C	E	G	C	E	G	C
draw note	D	G	B	D	F♯	A	B	D	F	A

(Compare this to major seventh tuning, below.)

Harmonic minor tuning is a variation in which E is replaced by E♭ and A is replaced by A♭. Thus the blow notes repeat a sequence of

C E♭ G

(perhaps shifted to begin with E♭ or with G) and draw notes at some point begin to follow a repeating sequence of

D F A♭ B

though perhaps with a different initial sequence.

For example:

hole	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16
blow note	G	C	E♭	G	C	E♭	G	C	E♭	G	C	E♭	G	C	E♭	G
draw note	B	D	G	B	D	F	A♭	B	D	F	A♭	B	D	F	A♭	B

Major seventh tuning raised each F by a semitone to F♯. For example

hole	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16
blow note	G	C	E	G	C	E	G	C	E	G	C	E	G	C	E	G
draw note	B	D	G	B	D	F♯	A	B	D	F♯	A	B	D	F♯	A	B

(Compare this to country tuning, above.)

Melody Maker™ tuning* raises the third Blow (Exhale) note by a full note, and raises the #5 Draw by a semitone to F♯. For example:

hole	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
blow note	C	E	A	C	E	G	C	E	G	C
draw note	D	G	B	D	F#	A	B	D	F#	A

Note: the Melody Maker™ tuning is key labeled from the Draw (Inhale) Second Position. The example above shows a Melody Maker™ in the Key of G.

• The Melody Maker™ tuning was developed by Lee Oskar Harmonicas in the early 1980s.

Natural minor tuning is a variation in which E is replaced by E♭ and B is replaced by B♭. Thus the blow notes repeat a sequence of

C E♭ G

(perhaps shifted to begin with E♭ or with G) and draw notes at some point begin to follow a repeating sequence of

D F A B♭

though perhaps with a different initial sequence.

For example:

hole	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16
blow note	G	C	E♭	G	C	E♭	G	C	E♭	G	C	E♭	G	C	E♭	G
draw note	B♭	D	G	B♭	D	F	A	B♭	D	F	A	B♭	D	F	A	B♭

Paddy Richter tuning (developed by Brendan Power) allows a two octave scale suitable for melody-based music. It was developed with Irish jigs, reels and hornpipes in mind but is suitable for other melodic music also; it allows pentatonic scales in the stated key and up a fifth; for instance, an instrument in the key of G can play both the G and D major pentatonic scales throughout the length of the instrument). The tuning raises the 3 blow by a whole step e.g. from D to E on a G harp; this addition of the sixth also allows melodies on a harmonica's corresponding minor scale (e.g. E minor on a G harmonica) to be played an octave lower than would otherwise be possible without bending. The addition of this, however, adds an additional complication to playing harmonic music on the harmonica, requiring the 3 hole to be blocked when playing a tonic chord. The lower octave requires a bend on the 2 draw to achieve a missing note (on a G harmonica, a C when playing in G, or a C# when playing in D), which is also required on standard Richter-tuned harmonicas.

For example:

hole	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
blow note	G	B	E	G	B	D	G	B	D	G
draw note	A	D	F#	A	C	E	F#	A	C	E

(above Paddy Richter tuning was checked on a Paddy Richter G Harp using an electronic Chromatic Tuner)