Natural Minor Harmonica

The Lee Oskar Natural Minor Harmonica is perfect for playing minor music in 2nd Position, such as minor Blues, Reggae, Latin, Funk and Hip Hop.

Lee Oskar Natural Minor Harmonica with box

Note Layout

Key Chart

Lee Oskar Natural Minor Harmonica

The Lee Oskar Harmonicas Natural Minor is a very useful harp that makes it much easier to play many musical genres that would otherwise be very difficult to play on the Standard harmonica tuning. Even if a player could master the highly advanced techniques that would be necessary to play certain melodies, one still would not have the chords and Minor scale notes that the Natural Minor provides.

Natural Minor harps have a very bluesy, soulful sound that’s perfect for playing Minor Blues, Reggae, Ska, Latin, Funk, R & B, Hip Hop.

Model: 1910N – Labeled in 2nd Position – Green Label

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

About the Natural Minor Harmonica

This fabulous tuning is set up to play Minor music easily, without straining the lips, the lungs or the mind!

  • Note: The key labeled on the Natural Minor Harmonica is indicated by playing from the (draw / inhale – Cross Harp / 2nd Position) .
  • Natural Minors can be played in 2nd Position (Cross Harp), to achieve the Natural Minor scale and the relative Major Scale.
  • Starting from blow (1st Position / Straight Harp) you are playing in a Dorian Scale.
  • 2nd Position / 1st Position key labels are identified at the ends of the comb.

In 2nd Position, many of the draw notes can be bent and this allows for a much more expressive, fluid style of playing. 2nd Position is a very popular style used by most players for today’s music.

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:

To make a Gm Natural Minor, we started with a C Major Diatonic (which plays in G in 2nd Position).

We flatted 5 reeds to make it into a minor tuned harmonica. (Shown in yellow below)

Then we labeled it in the 2nd Position key, Gm.

This tuning is intended to be played in 2nd Position (on the draw).

Notice how the available bends have changed.

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

Natural Minor Harmonica

Example: Key of Gm
Labeled in the 2nd Position Key (shown in green as #2 Draw) Natural Minor Harmonica Key Chart Example - Lee Oskar Harmonicas

Natural Minors are key-labeled in 2nd Position.

This makes it easy to know which key of Natural Minor to use.

To play Minor music in the key of G minor, in 2nd Position, use a Gm Natural Minor harmonica. It’s that simple! Gm for Gm.

Or to play in the key of A minor, in 2nd Position, use a Am Natural Minor harmonica. Am for Am… etc.

Natural Minors provide five flatted notes for playing Minor music.

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

Harmonic Minor

The Harmonic Minor, with its five altered notes, is ideal for playing World Music. Typically played in 1st Position (Straight Harp).

Choose this harmonica to play:
EASTERN EUROPEAN, GYPSY, YIDDISH, ASIAN, TANGO, REGGAE