Re: [Harp-L] History of harp tuning; Chrom Tuning

[Slim Heilpern <slim@xxxxxxxxxx>]

On May 16, 2014, at 1:06 PM, The Iceman wrote:

> 
> alternating white and black notes on piano wouldn't work....
> 
> 
> Your hands would have no way of knowing where you were on the keyboard.
> 
> 
> Current set up allows orientation....even w/eyes closed or Earl Garner playing.
> 
> 

Yeah, it'd be as bad as playing a harmonica in that respect ;-)

So, you'd gain (like dimi or augmented tuned chromatics) the ability to play more easily in all keys, but you'd lose the ability to feel which note to start on. 

On a related note, I know one very excellent chrom player who relies on the double C's of solo tuning to softly confirm his position on the harp before beginning a phrase.

Another angle on what I'll call the logical tunings (diminished and augmented come to mind), is that the fewer 'fingerings' (for lack of a better term) required to play in all keys, the less variety you'll have when switching keys. With the illogical solo tuning, every key on the chrom is a new world with different strengths, different usable double-stops and chords, different available ornaments -- that's one of the things I love about it, it's not boring.

- Slim.


www.SlideManSlim.com