Altered Tunings

["d.m.fairweather" <dmf273@xxxxxxxxx>]

Chris Michalek wrote:

"For me [altered] tunings are limiting, deficient and thus useless." 

But, isn't it true, Chris,  that ALL diatonic tunings are "limiting" and "deficient" in
one way or another?

I understand that you have chosen to limit yourself to working within the limitations
and deficiencies of Richter tuning.  But wasn't that choice based more on the
widespread availability of Richter tuned harps than on any inherent preference you have
for Richter tuning over, say, Country tuning or Solo tuning?

And isn't it true that even for a player as skilled as yourself there are certain
things you will NEVER be able to do on a Richter tuned harp, that you might be able to
do with an altered tuning?   Not just different chords and double-stops, but the way
you approach and embellish certain single notes too?  Even if you are fluent as Howard
Levy in all 12 positions, each position still has its idiosyncrancies -- or, to put it
less politely,  "deficiencies" which might be ameliorated on an altered tuned harp. 
You'd probably be trading them for a different set of deficiencies, but for a
particular song, that altered tuned harp might be the best choice.