Re: [Harp-L] FW: Dorian tuned alternative

[Richard Hunter <turtlehill@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

"Jason R" wrote:
<Just Play your regular tuned harp in 3rd position...these bends add so
<much character and style too the mode that you will end up wishing you
<neede them in the second and third octave. There are so many wonderful
<bending inflections and glissandos that can only happen as a result of
<these bends that after using them you would never want a DORIAN TUNED
<HARP. 

Jason's argument here basically comes down to two points:
1) 3rd position on a standard tuned harp sounds great.  

I agree.  

2) Because 3rd position sounds great on a standard tuned harp, no one
should ever want or need to use a Dorian-tuned harp.

I couldn't agree less.  

If you could do all the stuff in 3rd position that you can do on a
Dorian-tuned harp, I might agree. But you can't -- that's a fact, not an
opinion.  I'm not going to waste space with numerous examples here; just
compare the layouts of the two tunings, and it'll be pretty obvious
pretty quickly that 3rd position and Dorian tuning have very different
possibilities.  Okay, one example: start in 3rd position (D minor on a C
harp).  Try to play ANY full or partial chord that includes the 7th (C),
plus ANY of the root (D), 3rd (F), 5th (A), or 9th (E) of the tonic
chord.  You can do any of those combinations, or all of them together,
over a 3-octave range on a Dorian tuned harp.  That's just one example. 
There are plenty more.

Jason plays the way Jason plays, which of course is amazing, and if I
played like Jason, I might not care about alternate tunings either. 
Come to think of it, Jason should stick with those standard diatonics --
the last thing I need is competition from him on my turf. 

Everybody else should think about that Dorian minor. Plays just the way
you're used to playing in second position, sounds very cool and
different, makes BIG beautiful chords you will NEVER get from a standard
diatonic.  Easy, inexpensive, and good -- what's not to like?  And if
you're ever on stage with Jason Ricci, you'll be able to play something
he can't. Lord knows there ain't many ways to do that on a harmonica.
 
Regards, Richard Hunter
hunterharp.com