Re: [Harp-L] Richter Shift Tuning

[Eric Nielsen <ericbarnak@xxxxxxxxx>]

I'm curious. Why is "Richter tuning" not a good name for this tuning?

I am not suggesting that the popularity of the term "Richter tuning" makes
it correct. I am sincerely interested in whatever enlightenment you and
Winslow could impart on this. I--and I think others--would benefit from a
brief exposition.

Eric

On Mon, Mar 3, 2014 at 7:47 PM, Greg Jones <greg@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>wrote:

> I totally agree and yes it makes sense.  I try to avoid the Richter term,
> too.
> Occasionally I use the phrase "tuned to the style commonly referred to as
> Richter".
>
> I think a lot of the old trems and octaves were tuned this way as you
> state.
>
> Anyhow, the advantage as I see it in this tuning is that it allows the
> construction of
> a harmonica or reed instrument within certain pitch ranges that might not
> otherwise be
> possible.  As in the example above, the commonly played holes and pattern
> produce a pitch
> one octave higher.
>
>
> On Mon, Mar 3, 2014 at 6:34 PM, Winslow Yerxa <winslowyerxa@xxxxxxxxx
> >wrote:
>
> > I call that an extended version of standard tuning (I avoid calling it
> > Richter because Richter is a construction, not a tuning).
> >
> > First, think of a window that is 10 holes wide. All you can ever see
> > through that window is 10 holes at a time.
> >
> > Of course we know of windows that are 12 and 14 holes wide.
> >
> > The usual 12-hole window (as in the Hohner #364) lets us see 2 more holes
> > on the right, and those 2 extra holes extend the tuning on the high end.
> >
> > The 14-hole window comes in two versions:
> >
> > -- A window that shows us 4 extra holes on the high end (such as the
> > Hohner 365)
> >
> > -- A window that shows us 3 extra holes on the low end and one on the
> high
> > end (the Hohner SBS)
> >
> > Now we have a total of 17 holes to play with. But if you have a window
> > that's 10 holes wide, you can't see all 17 holes, so you have to locate
> the
> > 10 holes you want to see somewhere along that 17-hole continuum.
> >
> > Tremolo harps do this, and so do 10-key button accordions. They all
> locate
> > their 10 holes (sometimes more on tremolo harps) somewhere along that
> > continuum. Often, they start on Hole 2 of the standard 10-howl tuning and
> > extend to Hole 11 or 13.
> >
> > The one you're talking about has a window that starts on Hole -3 (i.e.
> the
> > third hole of SBS tuning) and extends to Hole 9.
> >
> > Does this make sense to you?
> >
> > Winslow
> >
> > Winslow Yerxa
> > President, SPAH, the Society for the Preservation and Advancement of the
> > Harmonica <http://spah.org/>
> > Producer, the Spring 2014 Harmonica Collective<
> http://harmonicacollective.com/>
> > Author, Harmonica For Dummies, ISBN 978-0-470-33729-5<
> http://www.amazon.com/Harmonica-Dummies-Winslow-Yerxa/dp/047033729X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1392924635&sr=1-1&keywords=harmonica+for+dummies
> >
> >             Harmonica Basics For Dummies, ASIN B005KIYPFS<
> http://www.amazon.com/Dummies-HFDPK-Harmonica-Learners-Package/dp/B005KIYPFS/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1392924701&sr=1-1&keywords=harmonica+basics+for+dummies
> >
> >             Blues Harmonica For Dummies, ISBN 978-1-1182-5269-7<
> http://www.amazon.com/Blues-Harmonica-Dummies-Winslow-Yerxa/dp/1118252691/ref=pd_bxgy_MI_img_y
> >
> > Resident Expert, bluesharmonica.com
> > Instructor, Jazzschool for Music Study and Performance<
> http://jazzschool.com/>
> >
> >   ------------------------------
> >  *From:* Greg Jones <greg@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> > *To:* Harp-L <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
> > *Sent:* Monday, March 3, 2014 4:31 AM
> > *Subject:* [Harp-L] Richter Shift Tuning
> >
> > I'm not sure what this tuning is called but it is sort of a modified or
> > shortened version of SBS that I'll call Richter Shift.  In this case, I
> > took a 10 hole Seydel 1847 and built in the key of (A) with the root
> > starting on hole 2 blow. The hole #1 note is an E/G#.
> >
> > The advantage is it amounts to a HIGH A that is all stainless steel reed.
> > Of course you have to get used to the notes being shifted over 1 hole,
> but
> > the other advantage is a full 3 octaves of 2nd position play.  It is nice
> > to be able to get above the other instruments and I can see this working
> > out well for (G) and (A) and possible more in a country/bluegrass
> context.
> > To get a HIGH A, it still required some 1/2 step re-tuning so it isn't
> > possible on the CONFIGURATOR.
> >
> > Email me if this interests you.
> >
> > 1st take over a backing track on the playing and yes, I missed a few
> > turnarounds and chord changes..
> >
> > https://soundcloud.com/greg-jones-9/seydel-1847-high-a-special
> >
> >
> > *Greg Jones*
> > *16:23 Custom Harmonicas*
> > *(210) 445-6600*
> > 1623customharmonicas.com
> >
> >
> >
>
>
> --
>  *Greg Jones*
> *16:23 Custom Harmonicas*
> *(210) 445-6600*
> 1623customharmonicas.com
>