OTHER TUNINGS

[BassHarper@xxxxxxx]

I have enjoyed reading the various posts regarding playing the harp upside
down (backwards), and it reminded me of a similar subject.  

With the availability of replacement reed plates and interchangeability of
parts (within a given brand), a whole new set of possibilities has been
introduced.  Lee Oskar was the first to produce replaceble reed plates, and
offer all components, including combs, cover plates and boxes, and others
have followed his lead - that's just good business and makes perfect sense.
 (However, to Lee's credit and foresight, he has the exclusivity of offering
replacement reed plates in all keys, for a total of 43.)

But,to get back to the subject, the really neat upshot is the various
possibilities that result:  Would you like to have a Dorian harp without
retuning any reeds?  For a C Dorian, put a C Major blow reed plate and a Gm
Natural Minor draw plate together - just that simple!  Same pattern of
course, for any Dorian key.

Another very interesting project is to reverse the two plates in a Major harp
- install the blow plate on the bottom, and the draw on the top of the harp.
 Now you get the Dominant 7th on the blow and the Major on the draw.  The
draw bends become blow bends, while the blow bends become draw bends.  Bob
Williams has done this very modification with his Melody Makers, because he
likes the Major 7th chord on the blow, and the Minor 7th on the draw.

With the options of "mix & match" there are many possibilities.  Try it - you
might like it!

-----Danny Wilson  (BassHarp)