Anyone who plays Irish or other folk music using Paddy Richter tuning may be interested to check out my new 10 hole Irish Session Harp. It has two Paddy Richter scales (D and G) in the one harp. You can flick instantly between them using your thumb in full cupping position, by shifting the springless slider to either in or out position. This makes it easy to switch between different tune keys in a typical Irish session set.
I already have a 12 hole Solo version of the Irish Session Harp, but this is the first time a Paddy Richter 10-hole model has ever been available. Here's how it works:
Last Edited by Brendan Power on Mar 31, 2015 2:57 AM
Irish music is a lot of fun to play, and good for your harp chops too! Lots of 1st, 3rd and 4th position, plus some 2nd. They are all easy in Paddy Richter tuning, as you don't need that tricky 3 draw full-tone bend: it's right there as a blow note instead.
If you want to learn a bit of Irish, I've had a popular instructional book/CD out since 2000 called "Play Irish Music on the Blues Harp", available from my website. You can just use a normal G harp to start with, but later on Paddy Richter makes things a whole lot easier.
Last Edited by Brendan Power on Apr 01, 2015 4:46 AM
I am guessing it is a Hering--he uses that brand for some of this other offerings, including the 12 hole solo tuned version (D and G on a single chromatic frame). I have some Vintage 40 Hering harmonicas that I like just fine, I did some different things with that Richter slide model and found them to be pleasant to play. Also, I am doing repairs for Brendan here in the States, so his products are being supported domestically. I personally want a Twin System interface for the 14 hole Suzuki slide harmonicas, so I can attach my SCX-56 and my SSCH to a single mouthpiece and toggle between them with the push of a button. Brilliant!
Yes, as Gary says it is based on the Hering 10 hole chrom. They have a new machined Delrin comb for it now that is better than the old wooden one, which used to warp.
Gary, the 14 hole Suzuki THS will be ready in the next couple of days. I have the 12 hole version working well now, and have printed out a 14 hole upper unit ready to attach the parts to. It could suit the combo you want. The lower sliders will need to be separate as they have different length slide travel, but in your case you'd want that anyway, I assume.
That's one of the best things about this twin-harmonica project: other people keep coming up with new personal ideas for how they could use it.
Last Edited by Brendan Power on Apr 01, 2015 9:15 AM
Brendan, I was looking at your video for a comment about the bendability of your new Richter 2-key design, but I must have missed it. Can you comment on the bendability of these harps? Are they half-valved?
Thanks,
Michelle
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Last Edited by mlefree on Apr 01, 2015 10:45 AM
It's always good to see what you're coming up with. Would it be possible to pair this up with another tuned to B/F# using your twin system for trills across entire 7th chords?
