Solo tuning

Solo tuning is a system of choosing the reeds for a diatonic wind instrument (such as a harmonica or accordion) to fit a pattern where blow notes repeat a sequence of

C E G C

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

D F A B

(perhaps correspondingly shifted). Or. alternately, these blow notes and draw notes, raised by a semitone, to

C♯ F G♯ C♯

and to

D♯ F♯ A♯ C

Traditionally, this tuning is used with chromatic harmonicas, as opposed to the more common and popular diatonic harmonicas, which use Richter tuning.

For example:

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

and

hole	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12
blow note	C♯	F	G♯	C♯	C♯	F	G♯	C♯	C♯	F	G♯	C♯
draw note	D♯	F♯	A♯	C	D♯	F♯	A♯	C	D♯	F♯	A♯	C

See also

• Augmented tuning
• Country tuning
• Diminished tuning
• Dorian Cross tuning
• Harmonic minor tuning
• Major seventh tuning
• Melody Maker tuning
• Natural minor tuning
• Paddy Richter tuning
• Richter tuning
• Scale tuning

References

• Chelminski, Rudolph; “Harmonicas are… hooty, wheezy, twangy and tooty”, Smithsonian Magazine, November 1995.
• Häffner, Martin, and Lars Lindenmüller; Harmonica Makers of Germany and Austria: History and Trademarks of Hohner and Their Many Competitors.