Lee Oskar Diatonic Harmonica 1910, 1910N, 1910H, 1910MM includes Free USA Shipping

Lee Oskar

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LEE OSKAR HARMONICA

Please note: Lee Oskar has been using three styles of packaging. 

We sell what the supplier sends us. We cant tell them which packaging to send.

1910 Major Diatonic
THE TRADITIONAL BLUES TUNING

Keys: LC, LF, LF#, LE, LD, G, Ab, A, Bb, B, C, Db, D, Eb, E, F, F#, High G The brand new keys of LD, LE, LF# AND LC are IN STOCK!

Model: 1910 – Labeled in 1st Position – Orange Label

The Major Diatonic is the standard Blues tuning and may be played in the 1st & 2nd Positions (Straight Harp & Cross Harp).

Understanding 1st & 2nd Positions

The Major Diatonic Harmonica was originally intended for playing simple Folk music of the nineteenth century and its notation layout was adequate for that purpose. The Major Diatonic harmonica is the most commonly used tuning for playing Blues, Rock, Country Folk & Jazz.

Several other manufacturers, using various names stamped on their cover plates, for marketing purposes, have the exact same notation layout as a Lee Oskar Major Diatonic harmonica.

The original style of playing, known as 1st Position (Straight Harp), is suitable for playing simple melodies, Folk music and various other types of music that call for melody lines, along with some chords. 1stPosition (Straight Harp), is still used by many players today, but due to its simplicity of sound, it is not as popular as 2nd Position (Cross Harp).

The evolution of music introduced Blues, Rock and Country and along with these new forms of music came the need for greater expression. Harmonica players began to experiment and found that when they primarily used the inhale (draw) notes, a different kind of sound was provided. This resulted in a new and more fluid style of playing, known as 2nd Position (Cross Harp). 90% of today’s players use 2nd Position for Blues, Rock, Country & Pop music.

2nd Position (Cross Harp), is a Blues scale that offers a more expressive and soulful sound. Many of the draw reeds can be bent (a technique used to change the pitch of a note).

Notation Chart
Key Charts


1910N Natural Minor
Natural Minor harmonicas are designed to be played in the cross harp position. Lee Oskar Natural Minor harmonicas are labeled in their cross harp key - so if you're playing a song in A minor, you will need a Lee Oskar harmonica in A minor.

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

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.

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

Natural Minors are designed to be played in 2nd Position (Cross Harp), not 1st Position (Straight Harp).

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.

Notation Chart
Key Charts

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 green below)

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

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

Notice how the available bends have changed.

Major Diatonic
Example: Key of C

Labeled in the 1st Position Key (shown in orange as #1 Blow)

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.

Natural Minors provide five flatted notes for playing Minor music.

Natural Minor
Example: Key of Gm

Labeled in the 2nd Position Key (shown in green as #2 Draw)


1910H Harmonic Minor
Model: 1910H – Labeled in 1st Position – Yellow Label

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

The Harmonic Minor has been in use for a long time, as the traditional tuning for playing a wide array of international music.The Harmonic Minor tuning has a very soulful, Eastern European sound and was used for one entire side of Lee Oskar’s highly acclaimed first solo album.

This multi-cultural harmonica is intended to play traditional ethnic music that is important to the heritage of many cultures, such as: Minor Eastern European, Gypsy, Yiddish, Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, Asian and European/American Folk music, as well as various selections of Jazz and Classic Show Tunes.

Notation Chart
Key Charts


1910MM Melody Maker
Model: 1910MM – Labeled in 2nd Position – Blue Label

Available in 9 Keys (Listed low to high):
C, D, Eb, E, F, G, A, Bb, High C

The Melody Maker™ makes it easier to play Standards and many other songs that can be difficult to play on a Major Diatonic, while producing a very expressive sound. The Melody Maker™ is the best harp available for playing single-note melodies. Because we changed the reeds in draw/inhale and blow/exhale, you can also play beautiful chords on this harp.

With its three altered notes, the Melody Maker™ is intended for playing Major scale melodies in 2nd Position (Cross Harp). In 1st Position (Straight Harp), you can play: Irish, Clave/Afro music. In 2nd Position (Cross Harp), you can play: R&B, Country, Reggae, Pop, Jazz, Latin.

(The Melody Maker™ is NOT recommended for Blues).

Notation Chart
Key Charts

Comparison:
Major Diatonics are key-labeled in 1st Position.

However, when played in 2nd Position, the Key of the Harp is not the same as the key of the music.

Helpful key selection charts are packed inside every Lee Oskar Harmonica.

Melody Makers™ are key-labeled in 2nd Position.

This makes it easy to know which key of Melody Maker™ to use.

To play music in the key of G, in 2nd Position, use a G Melody Maker™. It’s that simple! G for G. The chart below shows the notes that have been altered from a Major Diatonic, allowing you to play melodies easily in 2nd Position.

Melody Makers™ provide a complete Major Scale starting from the #2 Draw.
G, A, B, C, D, E, F#, G (Do, Re, Me, Fa, So, La, Ti, Do)

Order replacement Lee Oskar reed plates from here


Customer Reviews

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Customer Reviews

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J
John M
One of the best

I’ve been playing these harps for about twenty years and they have become one of my favorites. Before I discovered them I had played mostly Big River harps. I had a few other harmonicas made by Hohner as well.
The Lee Oskar’s just felt right to be. They responded the way I wanted them to. It was like they were made for me. Over the years I would wonder if I needed something with a wooden comb or different cover plates but I would always end up with a Lee Oskar in my hand. My only warning about this instrument is that you might want to keep your mustache trimmed because they will grab and that’s not fun. I would recommend to anyone looking for a new harmonica.

S
Steven McPeak
Natural Minor

I've been playing LO harps for 20+ years. LO's and Suzuki's are my harps of choice for Celtic, Jazz, Blues, and Country. I recently ordered the Natural Minor harps from Ron because of some reviews I had seen on YouTube. What a great tuning for playing Celtic, Latin and Minor blues. I don't know why I waited so long to give these a try. Highly recommended.

S
Steven McPeak
Low Down and Blue

This is a review of the Low Key LO's. I was using the low key'd Manji's, which are great harps. I needed a Low D and thought I'd give the Oskar a go. I've played the 1910 for years and was always pleased with the sound, quality and price. I placed my order late friday and received it the following Monday. (Thank you, ROckinRon!) The LO Low D is impressive. Very responsive and easy to play. Those that have played LOs know about the workmanship of the instrument and the Low Keys are no different. It was easier to bend and hold the bend than the Manji. There's wasn't any reed rattle either from the longer reeds, at least with the Low D. I highly recommend the LO Low Keys.

D
Daniel Pertschuk
Pleasantly surprised.

I've tended to write off LO harps because of the low price. I needed a lowF harp for a piece on the David Barrett site so I ordered the LO low F. Ron got it to me in 24 hours-not sure how he does it. Well I was very pleasantly surprised by the harp. I was all ready to start taking it apart and gapping etc, but it played great right out of the box across the whole harp plus all draw bends. I may have to start considering LO more seriously now
Dan

R
Rob Sawyer
Workhorse harps for all players

I was cruising around the site here and was surprised to see that no one had written a review for the venerable Lee Oskar harmonicas! So here's my take:

I have a couple in standard Richter tuning, plus one of Oskar's Harmonic Minors in A (a gift from my wife, who somehow managed to connive with Rockin' Ron to keep it a secret until she'd gotten it and gift-wrapped it). I'm holding off a star, i.e., just giving the harmonica four stars, but for just a couple of comparative reasons. E.g., the tone isn't quite what Hohner has done with the Crossover (at a bit higher price, of course); unlike Seydel and Hohner, Oskar doesn't do any low tunings other than low F; the "Melody Maker" comes in only limited keys that don't include my most commonly used ones, Eb and Bb, so that instead of Oskars I have the Seydel "Melodic Maker" in those keys; and durability isn't what you get with Seydel's stainless steel reed models (again at a higher price, of course).

That said, what Lee Oskar arranged with Japanese maker Tombo during an era when Hohner's quality control wasn't quite up to what folks like Steve Baker and Joe Filisko have now helped Hohner get back to, remains a dependable substitute, and a product that Oskar himself still monitors closely.


The Lee Oskar 1910 works in any pro's gig bag as well as in any beginner's collection. (A perfect good-quality playable starter instrument.) Quality is consistent, tone and volume across the reeds is consistent on each harp, playing comfort is really good, and the Lee Oskar is a really good value, priced in the same range as the Hohner Special 20 or Seydel Blues Session. Plus it's easily player-serviceable, with replacement reed plates available in all keys. And one last thing: While I'd hope anyone buying a Lee Oskar orders it from Rockin' Ron, except for the keys and tuning all Lee Oskars are exactly the same, which means that authorized dealers don't need to invest a ton of money to have good stock on hand. So if you're on the road and need a diatonic harp in a standard blues key within, say, the next 45 minutes, you can pick one up at most big-box musical instrument stores.

The Lee Oskar is like the Ford 150 pickup truck of harmonicas. Gets the job done without being flashy. If you've always stuck with another brand, pick up a Lee Oskar 1910 in a key or special tuning you don't already have in your harmonica case. You definitely won't regret it.