RE: [Harp-L] Bagpipe harp

[James Conway <harp3333@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi Paul,

On the bagpipe-tuned C harp, the 4 draw would be a D note, not a C. The tuning you found in the archives is correct otherwise. 

Yes, the bagpipe-tuned harp is meant to be played in first position. I have bagpipe-tuned harps with unaltered draw reeds on holes 3 and 7, giving you a major first position scale, but most of my bagpipe-tuned harps have those draw reeds tuned down a half step, which gives you a mixolydian scale in first position, which sounds very nice with a drone.

Yes, I don't raise 3 blow up a step in the bagpipe tuning because I like having  just the root and the fifth being played out the left side of my mouth to give a good drone sound while I play the melody out of the right side of my mouth. You might be thinking of Brendan Power's tuning, Paddy Richter, in which the 3 blow is raised up a step. I use this handy tuning a lot for the fiddle tunes.

cheers,
Jim Conway

harp3333@xxxxxxxxxxx
www.jamesconway.net

www.youtube.com/jamesconway01





> Date: Fri, 15 Jan 2010 07:51:01 -0600
> Subject: Re: [Harp-L] Bagpipe harp
> From: michaelrubinharmonica@xxxxxxxxx
> To: paul_bowering@xxxxxxxxx
> CC: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
> 
> One of the greatest gifts of my life was when James built me a bagpipe
> harp.  4 draw IS D.  The C G G pattern on blows 1 2 and 3 create a C
> power chord.  The same chord is in draw 1 and 2.   I assume putting an
> A note in 3 blow would distort the sense of a drone produced by the
> current layout.
> Michael Rubin
> Michaelrubinharmonica.com
> 
> On 1/15/10, Paul Bowering <paul_bowering@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> > James Conway makes great use of a bagpipe/drone tuning that I think he pioneered. From the archives I found  the following layout:
> >
> > 1   2   3    4   5  6   7   8   9 10
> > C  G  G    C  E  G  C   E  G  C
> > C  G  Bb  C  F  A  Bb  D  F  A
> >
> > Holes 1 and 2 provide the drones but I'm a little confused about how to use this tuning. I assume it's played as first position mixolydian. Why is there no D on Draw 4? Or an A on Blow 3.
> >
> > P.B.
> >
> >
> >
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