diminished layout: ET, JI, or compromise?

[anatta]

Hello all-

Am about to order a Seydel Deluxe 'configurated' in diminished G tuning, but am stuck on whether to elect Equal Temperament, Just Intonation, or Compromised on the selection menu.  I am still a rank beginner, expecting to play melodically mostly, I expect, on the learning curve, but eventually possibly with guitar and piano, as these are in the household and family do play.  Does ET rule out any decent-sounding chords?  Do JI and compromise put me at odds with piano and guitar accompaniment?

I am grateful for any suggestions on what considerations are at play in the choices available to me with ET, JI, and compromise.

Thank you

Frank

[joculi]

Equal Temperament (ET), without a doubt.  That will give you the best options for melody in all keys.  Just Intonation and Compromise do give sweeter sounding chords in a very limited number of keys (mainly the home key of the harmonica).  Diminished harmonicas do not really offer much in the way of chords.  You can get some useful note pairs, but that's about all (unless you are looking for a diminished chord, which is unlikely unless you are a jazz player). 

Pat Missin is generally considered an authority on the subject.  A few months back he told me "I honestly can't think of any reason to use anything other than ET for a diminished chromatic." 

I hope you enjoy your Seydel Deluxe.  I enjoy mine.  If you do, join fellow Seydel Deluxe fans here:  https://forums.SlideMeister.com/index.php?topic=6567.msg77706#msg77706

Sean 

[Gnarly He Man]

I agree with Sean.

[michael s]

I've learnt chom with standard tuning for the past eighteen months. The layout is akin to a piano which I play - mostly easy listen and some classical music. What if any is the advantage for me of diminished tuning??
Regards
Michael S

[Gnarly He Man]

Diminished tuning is a MOLT--Mode of Limited Transposition, so the tuning makes it easy to play in many keys with the same patterns.
I tried it, but prefer a tuning that is closer to standard, called bebop tuning.
If you play diminished tuning, there are only three patterns to play in all 12 keys!

[anatta]

Thanks, all, for the input.  I have ordered the Seydel diminished G in ET, and expect it in a couple/few weeks.

Frank

[chromaddict]

Here's the link to the tuning info on Pat's site:

http://www.patmissin.com/tunings/tun7.html

I've learnt chom with standard tuning for the past eighteen months. The layout is akin to a piano which I play - mostly easy listen and some classical music. What if any is the advantage for me of diminished tuning??

I play the piano and I prefer diminished tuning.  On diminished tuning you don't have to 'know where you are', because every interval is created with the same movement and breath pattern, regardless of what hole you are on.  This makes ear playing much more intuitive. 

On diminished tuning there are 4 evenly spaced enharmonics in each octave.  This allows a greater freedom of choice on how to play a given phrase.  Also, every minor third is available as a trill (great for blues, r&b, and pop music).

Many players find the double C's on solo tuning to be less than ideal.  Your piano doesn't have those! 

[joculi]

I've learnt chom with standard tuning for the past eighteen months. The layout is akin to a piano which I play - mostly easy listen and some classical music. What if any is the advantage for me of diminished tuning??
Regards
Michael S

The piano doesn't have two C's side by side. 

Diminished is a bit unusual at first glance, but the more I considered it, the more sense it made.  You still have enharmonic options (more, in fact, than solo tuning offers).  And, most importantly, the distance between two notes separated by a given interval is always the same.  You don't have to remember to jump an extra hole if C is between the two notes.  Nor do you have to remember to switch breath direction on the C/B hole. 

I like to say that on diminished tuned chromes, the notes are "where they should be."  I generally find that when I reach for a note, there it is.  It makes it very easy to play by ear (though I most often use a lead sheet).  It just makes the instrument make sense, in my humble opinion. 

With solo tuned, I always had to think about what key I was playing.  With diminished, I don't do that so much.  I often forget what key I am playing.  I can do that because the intervals make so much sense. 

Sean

[streetlegal]

It seems to me that many chromatic players are happy to play in a single key. For instance many Irish traditional music players would choose an instrument in the key of D. In that case there is a lot to be said for going with Just Intonation - trading versatility for sweetness within the given key.

[roady43]

It seems to me that many chromatic players are happy to play in a single key. For instance many Irish traditional music players would choose an instrument in the key of D. In that case there is a lot to be said for going with Just Intonation - trading versatility for sweetness within the given key.

Sure but only if you really only stay in this key (e.g. D) or very close and not intend to use the harmonica for full chromatic playing (in all the other keys). When I have to tune my harmonicas I have my main repertoire in mind and sometimes adapt the intonation of some reeds to "Just". Beside this I generally tune a bit sharper (A~444Hz) as I can bend the notes down if necessary.

If not playing in just 1 tonality only ET makes sense specially for symmetrical layouts as dimished or augmented because they are predestined to play in all 12 keys "with equal rights" and independantly. Another big advantage of these tunings beside the mentioned ones by Sean (and others).

roady43