RE: [Harp-L] Scottish/Irish tunes - C#/D

[Blunt White <playharp@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hello- Would like to convert a standard tuned chromatic to C#/D tuning.   Could someone share the exact tuning scheme or a recommendation on how to purchase one.
Thank you,
Blunt White
 
> Date: Tue, 3 Dec 2013 09:47:07 +0000
> Subject: Re: [Harp-L] Scottish/Irish tunes
> From: cathaljohnson@xxxxxxxxx
> To: winslowyerxa@xxxxxxxxx
> CC: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
> 
> That style is known as 'melodeon style,' as it comes from the single row 4
> stoppered melodeon. People like Martin O'Conor and Jackie Daly use it, C
> sharp D tuning instead of the old standard of BC style configured playing.
> While BC accordions give you a few notes on the same breath (depending what
> key) giving a legato sound, it is awkward to play in keys like D for
> example. Irish traditional dancers prefer the punchier sound of the
> melodeon or melodeon style for dancing to.
> I think it depends what was mostly available, BC accordions prevailed in
> the old days.
> 
> To keep close to the traditional however, the melodeon win out altogether.
> It is diatonic and therefore modal. Irish music is modal based, not
> chromatic and so accordions break further away from the tradition. Nowadays
> C sharp D accordion are readily available and becoming more and more
> popular. There are two camps however the C shape D and the B C. For me it
> has to be the C sharp D that was out, it sounds jazzier, punchier and
> easier to play and becoming more and more the choice of weaponry for people.
> 
> Harmonica player extraordinaire Tom Bryne from Donegal however has a
> different slant on things coming from the BC background he plays a C
> chrome. Here is a quote from Tom on the subject of what harmonica and what
> key to play in for Irish traditional dance music here:
> "Playing a C chromatic a lot at present and in my opinion with a fair bit
> of practice it is a great instrument for trad music. Playing loads of tunes
> on it in d, e, Bb, a. Keys of g, c, f and related minors and corresponding
> flat and sharp keys are all handy. Going to record a video for u tube in
> new year."
> 
> Best,
> Cathal Johnson
> www.cathaljohnson.com
> www.harmonicasireland.com
> https://www.facebook.com/harmonicasireland?fref=ts
> 
> 
> 
> On Mon, Dec 2, 2013 at 9:41 PM, Winslow Yerxa <winslowyerxa@xxxxxxxxx>wrote:
> 
> > Some 2-row diatonic accordionists nowadays play C#/D, where in previous
> > times they would play B/C, which gives smoother same-breath note strings.
> > C#/D is punchier.
> >
> > Brendan Power used to make C#/D CX-12s for Irish music.
> >
> > By the way the CX-12 is not the only cross-tuned chromatic. Hohner 16-hole
> > chromatics are cross tuned, as are the Chrometta series, and Suzuki SCX-48,
> > G48, and Sirius 64 models. All Hering and Seydel chromatics are straight
> > tuned, as are the Hohner 270-based models and the Meisterklasse.
> >
> > Winslow
> >
> > Winslow Yerxa
> > Author, Harmonica For Dummies, ISBN 978-0-470-33729-5
> >             Harmonica Basics For Dummies, ASIN B005KIYPFS
> >             Blues Harmonica For Dummies, ISBN 978-1-1182-5269-7
> > Resident Harmonica Expert, bluesharmonica.com
> > Instructor, Jazzschool for Music Study and Performance
> >
> >   ------------------------------
> >  *From:* Cathal Johnson <cathaljohnson@xxxxxxxxx>
> > *To:* Harp-L <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>; brian.irving@xxxxxxxxx; moorcot@xxxxxxx
> > *Sent:* Monday, December 2, 2013 9:23 AM
> > *Subject:* [Harp-L] Scottish/Irish tunes
> >
> > Hi Brian and the Harp L community!
> > I have retuned my CX 12 chrome in D to C sharp D. This allows me to keep
> > closer to the tradition, allows me to follow fiddle rolls and triplets and
> > other ornamentations too. Instead of going up a semi tone when the button
> > is pressed it goes down a semi tone. This is in keeping with the tradition.
> > I find it I can't go to a session without it really. Normal tuned chrome
> > just don't cut it like a customized chrome in C sharp to D. Also with the
> > CX 12 you cannot simply turn the slide up side down, so you have to
> > re-tune it altogether. Also unlike other chromes the CX 12 sharp reed criss
> > cross from top plate to bottom plate. Others simply have all the sharps on
> > one plate and so on…
> > For me this is the ultimate in playing Irish music.
> > If you learn it well a C sharp - D can cover all keys needed for a normal
> > regular Irish session, as most tunes are in the keys of D and G and their
> > associated keys, including on some tunes F sharp minor, which the odd tune
> > can go into for a second part for maybe a few bars. So on a D you can play
> > tunes in D, A, Bm, F shape minor, tunes in Em and some tunes in G that are
> > modal. Also in G, D, Am, Em and so on or just transpose from the above…
> >
> > If anyone play chromatic in D and G it is a good idea to change the tuning
> > of the sharpened set of reeds from, on a D Chrome from D Sharp down to C
> > sharp to D. A famous/well known chromatic player called Eddie Clarke used
> > to play in this style. He has passed now, sadly but here is Facebook page
> > set up by his family and friend. His music can be purchased. He played with
> > the button pressed in and releasing it for triplets and ornamentation etc.
> > And/Or he switched the slide up side down. He is considered the best. Eddie
> > has played with famous Irish bands such as Altan and has a few great
> > recordings available. Check him out. Here he is playing with Joe Ryan, as
> > you can hear from the recording the two play as one, very close to each
> > other that they sound as one. This can only be achieved with the tuning or
> > harmonica set up as I have described above and below:
> > http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mGp41hYrjLM
> >
> > Steve you said: 'But replacement reedplates are either impossible to get or
> > else they cost anything from the price of a whole harp up to more than
> > twice as much (even then the prospects of getting what you want are very
> > limited)." If you are really stuck you can send your XB 40 to me for
> > repair. I have a stock of Hohner reeds I got of Hohner for this reason.
> > They endorsed me as Harmonica Repair Tech for All Ireland and I've been
> > trained to a high standard by Brendan Power. I repair harmonica now for
> > years… I am sure it will be cheaper than reed plate replacements and the
> > price of a new one. Especially if you have more than one. So keep that in
> > mind, there is a good answer to your problem.
> >
> > Please click on the Facebook link below and join Harmonicas Ireland. This
> > is a site for harmonicas in general and Irish harmonica playing.
> > Thank you Harp L
> >
> > Kind regards to all
> > Cathal Johnson
> > www.cathaljohnson.com
> > www.harmonicasireland.com
> > https://www.facebook.com/harmonicasireland?fref=ts
> >
> > Date: Tue, 26 Nov 2013 12:40:53 -0000
> > From: "brian.irving" <brian.irving@xxxxxxxxx>
> > Subject: [Harp-L] Scottish/Irish tunes
> > To: <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
> > Message-ID: <45A96132BC1C4AD597AFB363C9729E6A@nc4200>
> > Content-Type: text/plain;      charset="us-ascii"
> >
> > A question for all you trad Celtic musicians!  Which are the commonest keys
> > for Scottish/Irish traditional tunes?  So far, from my limited collection
> > of
> > recorded tunes I've identified D and A with some in C.  So harps in A, C
> > and
> > D would cover them.  Any other harps essential for a gig bag for celtic
> > jams/open mics?
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > --
> > Cathal Johnson
> >
> > www.cathaljohnson.com
> >
> >
> 
> 
> -- 
> Cathal Johnson
> 
> www.cathaljohnson.com