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| Paddy Richter Tuning - Harmonica - Other Instruments - ezFolk Forums | |||||||||||||||
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Roger Approved
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Hi Folks, For the past week I have been updating my '340 Tunes You Can Play On a Diatonic Harmonica' list. I now have over 400. However, I wanted to categorise them into those that are playable as short themes and are suitable to play in medley's, and those that can be played as complete solos. One of my main considerations was that I did not want to have to bend any notes to play the piece. I believe that there are many of you out there that just like to play straight harp, and cannot afford to keep buying new harps or reed plates that the wear and tear of bending reeds necessitates. After playing 425 tunes on the diatonic, I became quite dissatisfied with the note layout found in Major Diatonic Harmonicas. Basically, it is missing a sixth note of the scale in one of the bottom three holes. In the key of 'C' this would be an 'A' note. Many of the tunes that I played needed a sudden jump up to the higher octave to include the sixth note of the scale. Consequently much of the piece had to be played in the top end of the harmonica when it sounded much better being played down the lower end, especially when the original piece was written to go down in pitch, and not suddenly jump up an octave to continue the passage. This started me on an Internet search for a harmonica that had the missing sixth note down the bottom of the harmonica. I like the Richter layout of the standard major diatonics apart from the missing sixth note down the bottom of the scale. Anyway, I found this site which gave me the answer, and I recommend that anyone interested in diatonic harmonicas have a read of this article. http://mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/trad_irish_harmonica/page3.html I have re-tuned my harp exactly the way Steve Shaw suggested, and it makes a big improvement to the playing of a diatonic. I always wondered what the 'Paddy Richter' tuning was, and now I know. However It must be noted that, Steve's raising of the 2nd draw reed from the 5th note of the scale to the 6th, is not the same as Brendan Power's, who was the inventor of the 'Paddy Richter', tuning. Brendan raises the 3rd blow reed. Steve's method removes the draw chord at the bottom of the harp, which for me is not important as I am looking for a solo configuration. Finally, I would suggest that one does not attempt to make this alteration unless they have an electronic tuner. The advantage of Steve's method is that you can leave the reed plate on the comb whilst re-tuning the 2nd draw reed, so you can continually test the pitch of the note as you file away more of the reed. I also suggest that you have a practice run on a cheap $10 harp before altering your favourite Lee Oscar or Hohner. If you do not want to delve into the mysteries of re-engineering your favourite instrument, Seydel now sell a 'Paddy Richter' layout in their 'Blues Favourite' range. http://www.seydel1847.de/epages/Seydel.sf/en_GB/?ObjectPath=/Shops/Seydel/Products/15206/SubProducts/15206C_Chrom&ACCESSORY=1 Best of Luck, Roger Last edited on Thu Apr 24th, 2008 11:35 pm by Roger |
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James Connolly Approved 
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Thanks Roger, that is so good to know. Appreciate the info. JamC
____________________ James (Seamus) Connolly http://ezfolk.com/audio/jamesconnolly http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/422/popmp3.php http://www.myspace.com/celticseamus |
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Roger Approved
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Hi James, Thanks for your input, I appreciate it. I have just been watching your videos on You Tube @: http://www.youtube.com/trickadaloob They are excellent, and I thoroughly enjoyed them, well done mate. Roger
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| ezFolk Forums > Other Instruments > Harmonica > Paddy Richter Tuning | |
