Re: [Harp-L] Re: Paddy Richter vs. Melody Maker

[dmatthew@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

While I do not for a minute question its awesomeness in any style, the best thing about Paddy Richter in my opinion, way better than what it does for fiddle tunes and whatnot is that it opens up this whole world of fourth position minor. On a C, you get an Am chord, a C chord a Dm chord, a G chord and a G7 chord, awesome chords for Am playing. You've got these awesome tongue block octaves. My opinion is for melodic purposes in fiddle tunes, you could play those same notes on a chromatic, or a low diatonic for the most part. It's true beauty is in minor keys. What what it brings to the table for 4th position minor keys is truly unique. 
The feel is much more natural to me than a regular minor-key harmonica. 

Dave
___________________________
www.elkriverharmonicas.com


--- On Fri, 9/11/09, Brendan Power <bren@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> From: Brendan Power <bren@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Subject: [Harp-L] Re: Paddy Richter vs. Melody Maker
> To: Harp-L@xxxxxxxxxx
> Date: Friday, September 11, 2009, 4:52 AM
> I'd like to add my two cents worth
> here. 
> 
> Steve Shaw wrote: "It's the tunes that work best on a G
> harp that call most
> for the Paddy tuning." 
> 
> With respect to Steve, I disagree: for me, one of the best
> things about
> Paddy Richter tuning is that it opens up the whole of the
> bottom octave of
> the D harp for melody playing. Though it is possible to use
> the Low D and
> play the holes from 4 on up (as Steve likes to do), I
> prefer the funky sound
> of the bottom octave of a standard D harp. Here is a video
> to show what I
> mean:
> 
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B1-BTe5oHhQ
> 
> The only note missing in the D scale is G, but that is an
> easy whole tone
> bend on 2 draw, and it's generally a passing note in the
> modes associated
> with a D harp. To my mind, the bend adds flavour to the
> tunes rather than
> detracts from them. 
> 
> Of course (as Steve point out) if the tune goes down to a
> low A or B, you do
> need to use a Low D harp. And there are some tunes where
> the middle octave
> layout is easier or more appropriate. 
> 
> If not, I would almost always choose the standard D in
> Paddy Richter,
> because of the earthy tonal qualities of that bottom
> octave. 
> 
> Brendan Power
> WEBSITE: http://www.brendan-power.com
> YOUTUBE: http://www.youtube.com/BrendanPowerMusic
> 
> 
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