Oh Susannah Island style

For your musical enjoyment--instrumental version of the Stephen Foster classic on guitar and harmonica. In G, harp is a Major Cross.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Stephen
• Foster
• Major
• Cross
• harmonica
• Oh
• Susannah

[GaryLehmann]

The inventor of this tuning is Tony Eyers of Australia--I once emailed him: "Hi Tony-- I just realized that if you play the draw chord Imaj9 with the sixth in the bass (so holes 1-6) and play a IV chord on guitar, it is a IV#11/13 (and mighty pretty!) On a G, that's E G B D F# A."

And the guitar chord would be the C chord.

He was unaware of this situation--I think I will do a video of it.

[GaryLehmann]

Thanks to all . . .

Just to recap, the secret to this approach is the tuning, it's cross harp but tuned major (C harp but the 5 draw is F#, and draw 3 is A as well).

So country tuned harp will work, as will Melody Maker, but the one I'm using is Major Cross--the draw chord is G major 7th and the blow chord is D7 on the bottom, gradually turning into a C (blow notes, starting with hole 1, are D F# A C E G C E G B).

Can't buy them in stores, but if you want to try it, I can do it for you.

[mrmtnboy93]

what key of harmonica are you using

[GaryLehmann]

@mrmtnboy93

It's a G Melody Maker--actually a Major Cross but you can't buy those in stores 8)

Basically it's a C harmonica with the F notes tuned to F#, so the draw chord is a G major 7th.

[rocket881]

Your harp tone sounds like a cat pissing in a tin can. Sorry man.

[GaryLehmann]

I can't get my cat to do that--

You must be very talented.

[2000guitar]

:D haha that is so cool! sounds sweet!

[simantadatta]

loved it ! great job

[nightskyk9]

This was really good!

[rocket881]

Seriousy though, try to breathe deeper, use your belly and diaphragm, really get the air from down deep rather than just in your mouth. Your cheeks shouldn't be opening and closing like that so much. Drop your jaw a bit and really coax out clear, crisp, single notes first, then work on the chords and bleeds.

[rocket881]

I am. My friends and neighbors often call me "The Great Pumpkin" because they are in awe of my enormous powers and abilities.