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Paddy Tuning

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Fri, 10/07/2016 - 12:28
SOTB
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The below suggestion comes from a someones site who I respect as a player. This is "one" of his suggestions for creating a Paddy Richter harp. What is your opinion on combining the below reed plates? Will combing these reed plates make the created harp slightly out of whack or will they match seamlessly IYO. I wanted to ask you before I experimented and invested cash. I may ask Winslow if he's ever Mad Scientist this combo too.        

Thanks for your opinion! 

"If you're handy, you can also assemble a G scale Paddy Richter by cannibalizing two Lee Oskar harmonicas, which have replaceable reed plates. For this, take D Melody Maker (Melody Makers are labeled according to their second position keys) and a G major diatonic, and combine the blow, or upper reed plate from the Melody Maker with the draw, or lower reed plate from the G major diatonic."

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Sat, 10/15/2016 - 08:17
#1
Harp Tech Kinya...
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Hi SOTB, good to hear from

Hi SOTB, good to hear from you.

I love Paddy tuned harmonicas--in addition to playing pure tone notes for melodic tunes, you will be able to play that super important bent note (blues) on the 3 draw in near perfect tune! Relative to a C harmonica, this would be the Bb.

HOW DOES THAT WORK?

For a typical Richter tuned C harmonica, the 3 blow note = G, and the 3 draw note = B. With proper bending technique, you will be able to coax three additional notes = Bb, A, Ab (the spread between G to B ... pretty cool, uh ;o) With the Paddy tune, you will only have to be concerned with hitting one bent note--the Bb. This is similar to how most beginner harmonica players learned to bend a note by first bending on the 4 draw--with only one half step bend to worry about, it was relatively easy to master. The only downside is that you will no longer have access to the Ab note.

TAKIN' IT TO THE BENCH

As for the method of making a Paddy tuned harmonica, I prefer the following process:

  1. Remove the cover plates
  2. Remove the blow reed plate and place it flat on to a work surface (with the free reeds facing upward)
  3. Support the free end of the 3 reed by sliding a shim (.002" ~.003") or reed plinking tool, flat toothpick, etc.--anything to prevent the reed from dropping into the slot
  4. Approximately 1/8" from the free end of the reed, place a jewelers file, sanding stick, fine emery board (review Harp Tech Study videos and previous blogs on tuning tools)
  5. Carefully slide (scrape) the tool off towards the free end. Repeat this step six times.
  6. Reattach the blow reed plate--reeds facing down into the comb, long reeds to your left
  7. Squeeze the reed plates together with your pinched thumb/index fingers (don't bother screwing back together yet), and blow into the 3 hole. Listen/look at your progress against a chromatic tuner. Relative to the C harmonica, the 3 blow will climb (sharpen) from it's original G ... up to G#(Ab) ... then A. Still not there yet?
  8. Then repeat 1~7
  9. Hit that perfect A (chromatic tuner needle at zero 0)? Excellent, now reassemble your harmonica and make music!

Your Harpsmith, Kinya

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Sun, 10/09/2016 - 19:09
#2
SOTB
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Ok, you talked me into it.

Ok, you talked me into it. Thanks for the steps to follow, sounds like it's simple, I'll give it a go!

 

Thanks for your time

"School of the Blues" Dan

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Sun, 10/09/2016 - 22:01
#3
Harp Tech Kinya...
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Excellent Dan, To clarify

Excellent Dan,

To clarify "Paddy" tuning--this is where (relative to C harmonica), the 3 blow note is raised a whole step. This means the 3 blow (G) will be tuned up a whole step (A). Don't fret, the G note still lives on the 2 draw ;o)

Your Harpsmith, Kinya

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