Easy to switch between Solo and Orchestra tuning?
I've been playing solo-tuned 12-hole chromatics for about two years but want to try something with more range. I believe 14-hole chromatics only come in Orchestra tuning and 16 may only come solo tuned.
My question: Is it difficult to switch between orchestra and solo tuning? Can you become adept at both?
From the prior thread: "Orchestra" is sometimes used to describe 12-holers that start on the G below middle C, and end on F thrlee octaves later. Seems as if a lot of players, especially blues, use the highest G, A, B & C very little, so that type of tuning works for them.
Thanks UkuleleRob65. I'm going to try a 14-hole. It will be good practice switching between it and my 12-hole and I'll enjoy the wider range. Someday I'll work up to the big 16-holer.
Orchestra tuning *is* solo tuning, just starting at a different point in the sequence. Take solo tuning and start it on G instead of C, and you have Orchestra tuning.The greatest difficulty is in adapting your muscle memory to move your expected note relationships two holes to the right.
NoNoteHarm:
Because of the repeating scale pattern on the chromatic, adapting to more holes is probably less of an issue than switching on diatonic between Richter, melodic, major cross, and other types of tunings. But over the years I've found that after a week of playing a new tuning, my initial reaction of "this is going to be a difficult change" becomes more like "no problem."
Probably because of my Victor Wooten-inspired philosophy that no matter the key or musical style, whatever "wrong" note may come out is only a half-step away from a "right" note.
NoNoteHarm: There was some discussion of this here on the Forum two years ago, at https://www.bluesharmonica.com/first_chromatic_solo_or_orchestra_tuning
Check out Winslow Yerxa's information on that thread. There's no difference between "solo" and "orchestra" tuning when it comes to chromatic, save for the lowest note. E.g., 14-holers start on G below middle C, with the lower G,A,B,C before repeating that C scale and having three octaves. 16-holers start on C below middle C, thus have four octaves. Because it starts on that G, some makers advertise their 14-hole models as "orchestra" tuned.
As for switching back and forth, just like switching between 10-hole diatonic and chromatic, or Richter-tuned diatonic and other tunings, provided you spend enough time on each (e.g., play different-sized chromatics each day), after a while it souldn't be a bit issue.
Let us know what larger-range chromatic you end up with, and how you like it!