[Harp-L] Spiral tuning for a beginner: which key?

[christoph@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Dear all,

I recently got a Richter-tuned harp in C-major and I can play some 
tunes on it.  I'm motivated to keep on learning.  I'm not 
particularly interested in blues, rather in all-round playing.  As 
a scientifically-minded person I find the irregularities of the 
standard tuning irritating, so I got interested in alternative 
tunings.  I thought I could as well continue learning on a 
spiral-tuned harp.

I wonder which key to choose (for the beginning I'd like to get a 
single one only).  As I'm most interested in playing solo without 
other instruments, the relevant criterion seems to be the tonal 
range.  What would you suggest as a good compromise for all-round 
playing?  I find the upper tones of my C-major Richter rather 
squeaky, while I think that some lower tones wouldn't hurt.  But 
then, as a beginner, I would like to be able to play simple 
C-major tunes without bends at more-or-less their official pitch. 
I think this means that I should get a harp where 2-draw is C4. 
But won't this one be too low for all-round playing in the lower 
octave that starts with 2-draw?  Perhaps a better choice is to 
choose G4 as 2-draw.  But then, if I understand correctly, playing 
C5-major will require a bend (perhaps that's easy enough).

It seems to me that Seydelâs default, the âcompromised tuningâ is 
a good choice for all-round playing with some chords.  Can you 
confirm this?

Finally, the manufacturer offers to half-valve the harp.  I 
understand that this is not something for beginners, but is it a 
good idea to half-valve the harp right-away for the future?  I 
read that this modifies the sound a bit, but otherwise there are 
no downsides.

By the way, I notice that even though spiral tuning makes all the 
notes of a key directly available, the additional notes from 
blow-bends are different from octave to octave (depending on 
whether the tonic is on draw or blow).  I wonder about the 
practical significance of this (also for choosing the key).

Many thanks
Christoph