[Harp-L] RE: Fiddle Tunes on Harmonica - Articles by Tony Eyers
Robert Coble
> From: Tony Eyers
> Subject: [Harp-L] Tony Eyers articles: Fiddle Tunes on Harmonica
> To: har...@harp-l.org
>
> I've put together a set of articles which describe my approach to fiddle
> tunes on harmonica. Topics include harmonica tunings, finding tune
> speeds, strategies for learning and the basic repertoire.
>
> "At any time, in thousands of festivals, homes, bars and other places,
> people will be gathered for traditional music sessions. These are social
> events, but often feature players with extraordinary skill. Closely
> related to a session is a gathering of American "bluegrass" players,
> known as a "pick". Playing fiddle tunes on harmonica at is a way to
> enter this community...."
>
> The remainder of the article is at the link below
>
> http://www.harmonicatunes.com/traditional
>
> Tony Eyers
> Australia
> www.HarmonicaAcademy.com
> ...everyone plays
>
Tony,
Thanks for several interesting ideas!
I'd like to point out that virtually any tuning can be obtained from the Seydel folks, including your "Major Cross" tuning. There is a small additional feeover the regular price, but (IMHO) it is well worth it to get the tuning youwant with a factory setup of the harp. It certainly takes a lot less of MY time!
I'm curious as to why you prefer "Major Cross" tuning vice Circular Tuning.
Major Cross Tuning (C Harmonica retuned to play in G in 2nd position)Hole--1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10Blow--D-F#-A-C-E-G-C-E-G-BDraw--E-G-B-D-F#-A-B-D-F#-A
Circular Tuning (D labeled harp, played in G)Hole--1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10Blow--D-F#-A-C-E-G-B-D-F#-ADraw--E-G-B-D-F#-A-C-E-G-B
I don't mind the breath reversal from one octave to the next; it's certainly
no more confusing than the breath reversal on hole 7.
I like having a chord on every scale degree and having all the scale degrees.
It's certainly a lot easier to play the melodies of bluegrass on either of thesetunings than on a standard Richter layout.
Regards,Crazy Bob
_________________________________________________________________
Windows Live™: E-mail. Chat. Share. Get more ways to connect.
http://windowslive.com/howitworks?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_t2_allup_howitworks_012009
_______________________________________________
Harp-L is sponsored by SPAH, http://www.spah.org
Har...@harp-l.org
http://harp-l.org/mailman/listinfo/harp-l
Tony Eyers
"I'd like to point out that virtually any tuning can be obtained from
the Seydel
folks, including your "Major Cross" tuning. There is a small additional
feeover
the regular price, but (IMHO) it is well worth it to get the tuning
youwant with
a factory setup of the harp. It certainly takes a lot less of MY time!
I'm curious as to why you prefer "Major Cross" tuning vice Circular Tuning."
The Seydel service sounds very useful. I can tune up my own, but it
takes time, and I tend to put it off. Of course, I never touch my custom
instruments.
As for why I use Major Cross instead of Circular Tuning: I'd never
actually heard of Circular Tuning when I developed Major Cross, about 10
years ago. To me the Major Cross tuning is essentially 2nd position,
which is hard wired into my system. Major Cross is just an extension of
the Melody Maker tuning.
For those interested in alternate tunings, the various names and who
developed what is kind of beside the point. The important thing is to
choose a tuning which makes it easier to play the music you want to (in
my case fiddle tunes), then put in the work to learn it. For (aspiring)
fiddle tune players, Paddy Richter tuning is worth trying if you're a
first position player, Major Cross or Melody Maker worth a go if you
mostly play 2nd position. More about this is at
http://www.harmonicatunes.com/retuned
Richard Hunter has done a lot of work with alternate tunings, Brendan
Power and myself likewise. And of course Charlie McCoy is famous for his
use of country tuning (or more precisely, for the music he has created
with it). James Conway also uses some alternate tunings, and Steve Shaw
uses Paddy Richter for playing traditional tunes. Off the top of my head
I can't think of other players known for using alternate tunings.
Tony Eyers
Australia
www.HarmonicaAcademy.com
...everyone plays
Steve Shaw
> Richard Hunter has done a lot of work with alternate tunings, Brendan
> Power and myself likewise. And of course Charlie McCoy is famous for his
> use of country tuning (or more precisely, for the music he has created
> with it). James Conway also uses some alternate tunings, and Steve Shaw
> uses Paddy Richter for playing traditional tunes. Off the top of my head
> I can't think of other players known for using alternate tunings.
>
> Tony Eyers
There's Jean Sabot in Brittany, possibly Europe's best kept traditional harmonica secret! Whilst many of us, me included, will treat changing the Richter setup with trepidation, altering one reed here and there, Jean is fearless about ripping his harps apart and rebuilding them to his own requirements. He is not constrained to just one or two closely-related tunings at all. Check him out - he's brilliant, and I know he is because I've played in sessions with him! :-) http://pagesperso-orange.fr/jsabot/
Steve
_________________________________________________________________
Hotmail, Messenger, Photos and more - all with the new Windows Live. Get started!
http://www.download.live.com/
David & Jackie Naiditch
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_dTCNLYHjlk
Also check out Jackson's Reel:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X8nbsvMI65A&feature=related
David Naiditch
www.davidnaiditch.com
www.myspace.com/highdesertbluegrasssessions