Re: [Harp-L] Paddy Richter for Blues?

[Ken Ficara <kenficara@xxxxxxxxx>]

Tim hits the nail on the head here. When I first started playing lots
of fiddle tunes, I got several Paddy Richter tuned harps from Brendan
(and, in fact, I think you made me one too, Tim) but I cannot live
without being able to play low-end rhythm chords. First of all, I like
to do mandolin-style chucks behind other players (especially if
there's no mandolin), and second, I prefer to play some fiddle tunes
tongue-blocked so I can use a lot of rhythm, and I'll live with having
to hit the 3-draw bend when I need it. You lose some precision on
maybe five notes in the whole tune, but you gain a great rhythmic
sense that makes some tunes work beautifully with no backing at all.

In fact I've often wished I had a tuning that would let me do
tongue-blocking over the nasty 6-7 draw area, but I don't think that's
possible without seriously impairing the ability to play melodies.

Ken

On Wed, 12 Jan 2005 16:15:53 -0000, Tim Moyer
<wmharps@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> The biggest
> deficits I see in the paddy modification for blues are the loss of
> the IV chord and the 2nd position tonic octave (3-6 blow).

-- 

Ken Ficara
Music, quotes, writing and more at 
http://www.kenficara.com