Re: [Harp-L] Tunings: PR vs MM vs CT

["Tim Moyer" <wmharps@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Fred wrote:
> Are there other songs where MM is really the way to go?  Is there 
> something wrong with this exposition?  I'm a big fan of alternate 
> tunings for specific songs, but 98% of the time play standard tuning 
> for improvising.

Since my name was mentioned specifically, I probably can find 
something relevant to say here.  I've said before that I play Paddy 
Richter as my "normal" tuning, and my gig kit now consists of a full 
set (including low F and high G) of Paddies and a set of 12 Melody 
Makers.  This, combined with a careful choice of positions/modes 
covers pretty much everything I do.  

Melody Maker tuning is an obvious choice for tunes that are in major 
keys for which you need to be able to play the melody, minimizing the 
use of overbends and bent notes (while never eliminating them 
completely).  The advantages of this tuning are the ability to play 
the major 7th without an overblow in 2nd position where you still have 
the primary chord notes on draws where they can be bent expressively.  
I use this tuning in 2nd position for a lot of country songs (mostly 
originals) and for a number of standards (When I Fall In Love, Fly Me 
To The Moon, Jersey Bounce).  I also use the Melody Maker in 5th 
position for a couple of minor pieces (Sunny, The Shadow of Your 
Smile).  Remember that the major scale that plays so well in 2nd 
position contains the same notes as the relative minor scale.

As an alternative for major key melody tunes, I sometimes use the 
Paddy Richter in 1st position.  Songs like Bye Bye Blackbird and Misty 
lay out very nicely in 1st position, and having that 6th in the low 
octave as a natural note is nice.  How do I decide whether I'm going 
to choose 1st on the Paddy or 2nd on the Melody Maker?  I try them 
both and see which one is more comfortable.  I do something similar 
when trying to choose between 3rd, 4th and 5th positions for minor 
tunes.  Remind me sometime and I'll give you the method I use for 
transposing positions.  

Of course, if you're playing single notes nearly all the time like I 
am, "standard" tuning gives you two of something at the expense of 
something else that's nice to have, so it's kind of a no-brainer for 
me.  In fact, I miss the 3D--- (Ab on a C harp) more than I miss the I 
chord; I have to pull off a 2OB for that note on a Paddy.  

Now, if at some time in the future I find myself wailing and chugging 
chords in a blues band on a regular basis, I'm going to want that I 
chord, and go back to standard tuning.  But until then -- and I hope 
it never happens -- I'm sticking with my two "alternate" tunings!

-tim