Harmonic Minor Harmonica

Use Harmonic Minor Harmonica to play minor music in 1st Position, such as Eastern European, Asian, Yiddish and Folk.

Lee Oskar Harmonic Minor Harmonica

The Harmonic Minor has been in use for a long time, as the traditional tuning for playing a wide array of international music.The Harmonic Minor tuning has a very soulful, Eastern European sound and was used for one entire side of Lee Oskar’s highly acclaimed first solo album.

This harmonica is intended to play traditional ethnic music that is important to the heritage of many cultures, such as: Minor Eastern European, Gypsy, Yiddish, Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, Asian and European/American Folk music, as well as various selections of Jazz and Classic Show Tunes.

Lee Oskar Harmonic Minor Harmonica

Model: 1910H – Labeled in 1st Position – Yellow Label

Available in 12 Keys (Listed low to high):
Gm, Abm, Am, Bbm, Bm, Cm, Dbm, Dm, Ebm, Em, Fm, F#m

Understanding 1st / 2nd Position

Although it is possible to play in many keys of music on any one harmonica by using various positions, most players use only the first two positions, 1st Position also known as Straight Harp, (starting from Blow) and 2nd Position also known as Cross Harp (starting from Draw). For more information see: Understanding 1st / 2nd Position

Comparison:

Major Diatonics are key-labeled in 1st Position.

The Major Diatonic lacks the flatted notes which are needed to play the Minor scales and chords used in the traditional folk songs of many cultures.

Harmonic Minors are key-labeled in 1st Position.

The chart below shows the notes that have been altered from a Major Diatonic (shown in yellow), providing the flatted notes that make it easy to play the Minor scales and chords commonly found in various types of ethnic music.

Harmonic Minors provide five flatted notes for playing Minor music.

Major Diatonic Harmonica

Example: Key of C
Labeled in the 1st Position Key (shown in orange as #4 Blow) Major Diatonic Harmonica Key Chart Example - Lee Oskar Harmonicas

Harmonic Minor Harmonica

Example: Key of Cm
Labeled in the 1st Position Key (shown in orange as #4 Blow) Harmonic Minor Harmonica Key Chart Example - Lee Oskar Harmonicas

Check out other Lee Oskar Tunings

standard
tuning

Major Diatonic

The Major Diatonic is the standard Blues tuning and may be played in the 1st & 2nd Positions (Straight Harp & Cross Harp).

Choose this harmonica to play:
BLUES, FOLK, ROCK, COUNTRY, POP

altered
tuning

Melody Maker™

The Melody Maker™, with its three altered notes, is great for playing Major scale melodies in 2nd Position (Cross Harp).

Choose this harmonica to play:
R&B, COUNTRY, REGGAE, POP, JAZZ, LATIN, AFRO, CLAVE, SKA (Not recommended for BLUES)

altered
tuning

Natural Minor

The Natural Minor, with its five altered notes, is a natural choice for playing minor music in 2nd Position (Cross Harp).

Choose this harmonica to play:
MINOR BLUES, REGGAE, SKA, LATIN, FUNK, R&B, HIP HOP