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| Paddy Richter Tuning #2 - Harmonica - Other Instruments - ezFolk Forums | |||||||||||||||
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Roger Approved
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Hi Folks, Sorry to keep 'harping' on this subject, but as a final post, I have now re-tuned two of my harps in the two diferent Paddy Richter tunings. Just to remind you, what I am doing is adding a sixth note of the scale to the bottom of the harmonica. This allows the playing of many tunes in the lower half of the harp instead of in the upper octave. The 2nd draw hole is the same note as the 3rd blow hole in the Major Richter tuning, and it is one of these two notes we need to re-tune from a 5th (dominant) note to a 6th (submediant) note in the scale. Steve Shaw suggests the re-tuning of the 2nd draw reed. Brendan Power is credited with the Paddy Richter re-tuning and he suggests filing the 3rd blow reed to raise it a tone. I now agree with Brendan, after trying both methods (Steve Shaw's and Brendan Power's). It is much more natural to play the re-tuned 3rd blow note when playing popular melodies, and you do not lose the dominant draw chord of the first three holes. The down side is that you have to remove the blow reed plate before you can file the third blow reed, but it is definately worth the trouble. And you can just hold the two reed plates against the comb while testing the tuning. I strongly suggest that you do your first Paddy Richter adjustment on an old, or cheap, harp before trying to re-tune an expensive, or favourite one. I also suggest that you use an electronic tuner and that you file off small amounts from the top of the reed at a time (at the end of the reed where it is thickest), and test it for the tuning each time. When you are near the final tuning, polish the reed with some very fine gritted emery paper. This will lengthen the life of the reed. Make sure you file off any burrs at the edges of the reed, just push the reed down into the reed plate a small amount and it should spring back without catching. If you accidently take too much off the reed it is not a big deal. Put a small blob of Araldite or epoxy resin on the top of the reed at the end, let it set then file it down to the correct tuning. If you want to know what the notes are on your harmonica, and what note you have to raise the 3rd blow note to, just go to this page on the net and you can generate the layout for any major diatonic harmonica key: http://www.angelfire.com/tx/myquill/HarpLayoutGenerator.html The reason I have spent so much time posting information about the Paddy Richter tuning is because, in my opinion, it has improved the playing ability of my re-tuned harmonicas greatly. At present Seydel are the only company supplying this tuning straight from the production lines. I do not understand why Tombo (Lee Oskar) and Hohner don't also supply a range of their major diatonics with a sixth note on the 3rd blow reed for solo and melody playing. I won't be drawn into a debate on the 'Lee Oscar Melody Maker' layout, I prefer the 'Standard Major Richter' layout with an added submediant note of the scale on the 3rd blow hole. Many thanks for your time in reading these posts, I hope they have been useful. Roger Last edited on Wed May 7th, 2008 11:13 pm by Roger |
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James Connolly Approved 
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Thanks for the info Roger. For me its a toss up between the the diatonic Hohner sp20 and the LOs. but i also play chromatic. i have thought about purchasing the Melody Maker from LO that Richard recommends and plays but this little piece of maintainence just might work for me, it would be nice to have a full scale on the low end and not be jumpin to the high end to complete a melody as i love straight melodys, not sure if i can do tho. i will fool with an old hohner bluesband and see what happens. They really should make this variation at the factories and at least give players a choice, they need an Irishman workin there (Paddy Richter) Anyway, thanks again and keep on suckin n blowin 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, Yes, I too like playing chromatic. Whenever I am playing jazz or advanced classical pieces I use my Hohner 270 chrom. I also like to play the chromatic slideless, it has the perfect layout for playing any solo melody that you can play on a diatonic. I use the slideless chrom or a harp when accompanying myself with a guitar or baritone uke. I also love playing blues on the harp, but I really like the challenge of finding as many tunes as possible that can be played on the diatonic without bending reeds. The list that I have posted is only a fraction of the material that is out there. The Celtic genre alone has thousands of pieces that can be played on a straight diatonic. Basically, I like simplicity. The chrom is great, but you have to warm it up before playing, it is in constant need of maintenance with valves etc. But the little harp is simplicity itself, and it has the greatest range of harmonic colour and tone of all the instruments that I play. I would suggest to anyone looking for a new harp layout that they look at a Lee Oskar Melody Maker and see if it suits them. Richard has had many years experience in playing the harp and he is very enthusiastic about this layout, so there must be something in it. Another interesting harp layout for playing both straight melodies and blues melodies is the 'Seydel Session Circular' harmonica. Circular (Spiral) tuning needs a minimum of bending to play tunes in various scale modes. It is certainly worth knowing about. The three best pieces of information on the net are @: The Seydel 'Blues Session Circular' Page: http://www.seydel1847.de/epages/Seydel.sf/en_GB/?ObjectPath=/Shops/Seydel/Products/10209/SubProducts/10209G_Chrom The Heiner Kruger's Explanation Of Spiral (circular) Tuning @ http://www.bluesharmonica.de/english/frame.html Dave Payne's '7 Keys' video demonstration of Circular Tuning @ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2McfCvJfpg The reason I have discussed the Paddy Richter layout is because there are hundreds of thousands of major diatonics already out there, and this simple upgrade costs nothing, and can improve the instrument for those that want to stick to playing straight melodies, and especially for those that are interested in playing Celtic music. The other thing it does is add greater variety to the straight harp. If you can play a melody in the bottom octave of the harp, and then repeat the same melody in the upper octave, the added range adds variety to the performance. Happy Jamming James, Roger Last edited on Sat May 3rd, 2008 01:23 am by Roger |
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James Connolly Approved
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The 270 is a fine Chromatic, used to have one, but very tempermental, as you said Rog needs a good warm up, just like a cool woman. I also played the CX12 for a while which i do not recommend because of what i think too much air and the reeds gives out way too fast. My favourite for the past couple years is the Chromonica 260, now there's a sweet sounding harp that takes a beating and the value is fine as i take the spring out of the slide and use the 2 octaves, is like having 2 Harps for the price of one. I would also recommend the Lee Oscars, the beauty of them is that you can replace the reed plate when they burn out, think i will get one of the Melody Makers which can be purchased here thru EZFolk site, great prices ! Will be checkin out 'Seydel Session Circular' Thanks again for the info Roger and remember what goes in must come out, whether it be bent or not Cheers, JamC PS. just been over to your website http://www.microshare.net/buke very informative indeed, now theres a combo (Uke & Harp) think i have to get me a yukealele and let rip Last edited on Sat May 3rd, 2008 03:12 pm by James Connolly ____________________ 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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| ezFolk Forums > Other Instruments > Harmonica > Paddy Richter Tuning #2 | |
