Re: [Harp-L] Scottish/Irish tunes

[Steve <moorcot@xxxxxxx>]

Sadly, it's highly unlikely that anyone who hasn't already got XB40s in D/low D, G and A will be able to get their hands on them as they've been discontinued. Here in the UK I've just managed to track one down in A. My G and low D are still working but are showing their age. But replacement reedplates are either impossible to get or else they cost anything from the price of a whole harp up to more than twice as much (even then the prospects of getting what you want are very limited). If the situation's better in the US, well I'd go for it while you still can if I were you. I know I've whinged here about Hohner's lamentable decision to do away with those wonderful low key SP20s, but when one buys an expensive harp like an XB40 it would be nice to think that replacement plates would at least remain available for several years at non-ripoff prices. 

For non-US players of tremolos I've found that the Tombo Band models are superior in most regards to Hohner Echos. They are louder, they stay in tune, have no missing notes, are longer lasting, have plastic combs - and are held together with screws!

> On 26 Nov 2013, at 17:24, "Winslow Yerxa" <winslowyerxa@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> 
> Speaking more for Scots and Quebecois than for Irish:
> 
> D (major and mixolydian), A (major, mixolydian, dorian, and occasionally natural minor), G major, and E dorian minor are the most common keys. C, G minor, F and even Bb come up occasionally, but they're pretty rare. 
> 
> I've never Paddied my harps but I can see why it would be attractive. Personally, I prefer to have that open 5th interval (like fiddle open strings) between Blow 1 and 3, and I just make the Draw 3 bend work.
> 
> Fist position is usually best for major, second position for mixolydian, third for dorian, and either third or fourth for natural minor. That said, I sometimes find that a tune lies better in a position whose default scale doesn't match the mode of the tune.
> 
> I mostly use a combination of XB-40s in Low D, G, and A, tremolo o octave harps in C, D, A, and G, and a Low D chromatic in A-bop tuning (blow notes in Holes 4 and 8 lowered by three semitones), and sometimes C chromatic as well. I have a couple of Country tuned harps that I use now and then as well,
> 
> The XB-40s have the power and volume to cut through at an acoustic jam, and their bendiness can come in handy when the scale or key changes. The tremolos (either Hohner Echo or Suzuki Humming) make for a nice tone color change from the single reed diatonics. And for some tunes the D or C chromatics just seem to make sense.
> 
> Winslow
>  
> Winslow Yerxa
> Author, Harmonica For Dummies, ISBN 978-0-470-33729-5
>             Harmonica Basics For Dummies, ASIN B005KIYPFS
>             Blues Harmonica For Dummies, ISBN 978-1-1182-5269-7
> Resident Harmonica Expert, bluesharmonica.com
> Instructor, Jazzschool for Music Study and Performance
> 
> 
> ________________________________
> From: brian.irving <brian.irving@xxxxxxxxx>
> To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx 
> Sent: Tuesday, November 26, 2013 4:40 AM
> Subject: [Harp-L] Scottish/Irish tunes
> 
> 
> A question for all you trad Celtic musicians!  Which are the commonest keys
> for Scottish/Irish traditional tunes?  So far, from my limited collection of
> recorded tunes I've identified D and A with some in C.  So harps in A, C and
> D would cover them.  Any other harps essential for a gig bag for celtic
> jams/open mics?
> 
> 
> 
> Brian (dyed in the wool blues man but looking to expand repertoire!)