[Harp-L] Re: Melody Maker vs Paddy Richter tuning for Scottish fiddle tunes

[Rick Epping <rickepping@xxxxxxxxx>]

Hi Richard,

I would recommend both tunings, though the Melody Maker would require being
played in an odd position for pentatonic or mixolydian tunes.  For Irish,
Scottish and Old Time tunes I mostly use Standard (Richter) tuning, Standard
with the 2- & 3-draw notes lowered a wholetone each, and Standard with the
5- & 9-draw notes raised a semitone each.  A mixolydian tuning I sometimes
use is Standard with the 2-draw note lowered a wholetone and the 3- & 7-draw
notes lowered a semitone.

Best regards,
Rick

------------------------------
>
> Message: 14
> Date: Wed, 9 Sep 2009 10:58:07 +0100
> From: Richard Hammersley <rhhammersley@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Subject: [Harp-L] Melody Maker vs Paddy Richter tuning for Scottish
>        fiddle  tunes
> To: "Harp-L@Harp-L. Org" <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
> Message-ID: <430680AC-2754-4414-A391-2F1D9D44B087@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed; delsp=yes
>
> As both my bandmates used to play in ceilidh bands, I'm thinking about
> learning some more Scottish tunes - I have learned a few in the past
> but 'cheated' and chose ones that could be played easily on a standard
> tuned diatonic.
>
> I see the point of raising the 3 blow a tone (common to both tunings)
> but melody maker also sharpens the draw 5, while paddy richter
> doesn't. Is there any point in the sharpened draw 5 for Scottish
> music? Indeed isn't it even a problem for playing in second position,
> given that most Scottish music is heavily pentatonic?
>
> Thanks for your advice
>
> Richard
>
>
> Richard Hammersley
> Grantshouse, Scottish Borders
> http://www.last.fm/music/Richard+Hammersley
> http://www.myspace.com/rhammersley
> http://www.myspace.com/magpiesittingdown
>
>
>