Diatonic Harmonica Tunings - An update

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   Here is an updated/corrected list of diatonic harmonica tunings that now includes the Hohner Marine Band Crossover and the Suzuki Manji: 

7 Limit Just Intonation

BLOW
0
-14
2+
0
-14
2+
0
-14
2+
0

HOLE#
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10

DRAW
4+
2+
-12
4+
-29
6+
-12
4+
-29
6+

Used on all Hohner diatonics (except for the Golden Melody and Solo tuned harps, which are tuned to Equal Temperament) until 1985, Hering 1923 Vintage Harp, and the just tuned version of the Suzuki Fabulous.

19 Limit Just Intonation

BLOW
0
-14
2+
0
-14
2+
0
-14
2+
0

HOLE#
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10

DRAW
4+
2+
-12
4+
1.5+
6+
-12
4+
1.5+
6+

Used on Marine Bands (1985-1992)/pre-1990 Old Standby's/Sp20's (1985-1992)/Pro Harp (pre-MS series)/pre-MS series Blues Harps, wood combed version of the Hering Master Blues, and the Bends Juke.

Hohner Comprimise Tunings for the Marine Band/Special20/Marine Band Deluxe since 1992

BLOW
0
-12
1+
0
-12
1+
0
-12
1+
0

HOLE#
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10

DRAW
2+
1+
-11
2+
-12
3+
-11
2+
-12
3+

Hohner Comprimise Tunings for the MS series since 1992

BLOW
0
-10
1+
0
-10
1+
0
-10
1+
0

HOLE#
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10

DRAW
2+
1+
-9
2+
3+
3+
-9
2+
3+
3+

Includes since 1992, MS Blues Harp, MS Meisterklasse, Big River, Cross harp, Pro Harp, MS Marine Band (discontinued and only issued in Europe), Martin, Tiffany, MS Bob Dylan, MS Steven Tyler models.

Seydel Comprimise Tuning since 2007

BLOW
0
-14
2+
0
-14
2+
0
-14
2+
0

HOLE#
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10

DRAW
4+
2+
-12
4+
-2
6+
-12
4+
-2
6+

Suzuki Manji Tuning

BLOW
0
-5
0
0
-5
0
0
-5
0
0

HOLE#
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10

DRAW
0
0
-5
0
0
0
-5
0
0
0

Marine Band Crossover Tuning

BLOW
0
-5
1+
0
-5
1+
0
-5
1+
0

HOLE#
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10

DRAW
8+
4+
0
1+
2+
1+
0
1+
2+
1+

Please read an excerpt from a posting Steve Baker placed on Harp-L on this tuning:

0=443Hz w. minimal air pressure, all deviations are in cents, 1Hz =  
approx. 4 cents on most tuners

Blow reed plate:
Root notes (1, 4, 7 & 10) tuned to 0
Thirds (2, 5 & 8) minus 5 cents
Fifths (3, 6 & 9) + 1 cent

Draw reed plate:
1-draw is very difficult to measure accurately. With absolutely  
minimal air pressure maybe +8 cents, more in low keys. Like that it  
will sound right with normal air pressure. It's essential that it  
sounds good when played together with 2-draw and as an octave  
interval with 4-draw.
2-draw + 4-6 cents depending on the key, at normal air pressure it  
should sound at the same pitch as 3-blow
3- & 7-draw tuned to 0
4- & 8-draw 1 cent higher than 2-draw (i.e. + 5-7 cents)
5- & 9-draw + 2 cents (this will mean the 7th chord sounds rough, but  
sounds better as a single note. You can even tune it a little higher  
if you prefer that sound)
6- & 10-draw 1 cent higher than 4-draw (i.e. + 6-8 cents)

It's highly recommended to check that all perfect intervals (octaves,  
fifths and fourths) sound without interference beats. This is what  
piano tuners do too. You'll find it's damnably difficult to obtain  
constant readings from your tuner and I can only recommend playing  
very softly indeed and holding the note for a long time so you get a  
fairly clear note value. I use a Korg MT-1200 tuner with a built-in  
spread which tunes the upper octaves slightly sharper (as do piano  
tuners) and use the smallest spread the machine offers. It's hard to  
work to this degree of accuracy with a tuner which only shows Hz values.

Hope this will be of assistance,

Steve Baker
www.stevebaker.de
www.bluesculture.com