Re: [Harp-L] Playing in majors/minors

[David Payne <dmatthew@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hey Gary, circular and solo tuning weren't around in the 1860s, either, haha.. 

Seriously, though, Paddy Richter's not bad for blues. I think of it as primarily 
a fourth-position tuning, but in second position, you still have all the same 
notes, you just have to go to the 2 draw for the G.  The only thing you really 
lose is the low C chord - and the ability to hit that A note off-pitch.:) 




----- Original Message ----
From: Gary Lehmann <gnarlyheman@xxxxxxxxx>
To: hazcon <hazcon@xxxxxxxxxx>
Cc: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Sun, July 18, 2010 4:12:23 AM
Subject: Re: [Harp-L] Playing in majors/minors

Raising the blow 3 hole eliminates that really deep bend on the draw.
So I agree, it's nice (heck, it's Paddy Richter) but everything's a
tradeoff--I wouldn't consider that the best tuning for blues.
I personally have grown fond of modified circular tunings, in lots of
different arrangements of tones (and am trying to remember which harp I am
playing to avoid clams).
Last night I retuned a Hohner 364 that has been retuned several times--it's
now closer to solo tuning (again), but with a big difference--the first
octave is major cross!
That makes F easier (this one's in C), and enables the draw bends on the E,
G and B notes (holes 2, 3, and 4).
So blow 1 is B, and it's circular up to the C on blow 5.
Again, this is not a blues instrument! But my latest gig is 1860's music,
the blues hadn't been invented yet (as far as we know).
Gary