Does anyone have a handle on the harmonica or the technique that Paul Lamb is playing on 'Summertyne' from the album 'Going Down This Road'? He appears to be using either a low tuned C or a 12 or 14 hole Marine Band. However, there are places, one in particular where he gets a low bend phrase which he repeats, that just doesn't exist on anything of that sort that I have. It doesn't sound like a special tuning and I don't think he uses special tunings though I may be wrong about that.
He gets a nice minor sound. He might be using a minor tuned harp. I'm at work so I can't check. I'm not really happy how he treats the melody. For me certain tunes have a status that the melody can be ornamented but when there are words that go to a tune you expect those notes to not be too stretched at least in the first go round. Just my own taste in arranging. ----------
I'm a big fan of Paul. Got most of his work on cd and dvd. Anyway Paul is ill in a German hospital at the moment and has cancelled some dates-so here's wishing you all the very best Paul.
He uses what I call a Dale king tuning or Easy third on his version. I know because I maintain his harps and have retuned a few to this scale for him to use on Summertyne. He is back hame in London now and is on the mend he tells me. He isn't a fan of altered tunings but he loved that one when I introduced him to it a while ago. Aye very nice fella. ---------- http://www.reverbnation.com/#!/alprice
Many thanks, guys. A positive font of knowledge, this forum. I'd sussed the low C but Dale King tuning? Al, how does that differ from straight C? Fascinated to know, if it's not a trade secret. I love that low bend he gets and it's certainly not in my low C tuned Thunderbird or Super Vamper!
From the Seydel website:Easy 3rd / Do it! (by Dale King)
This tuning is the ideal alternative to play pieces in minor keys, because you can easily play pieces in the third position without the need of intonating the double bends which are needed to play the dorina scale on a standard Richter harmonica! The draw chord becomes the minor chord (D F A D, on a harmonica in C) of the 3rd position instead of major chord (D G H D, on a harmonica in C) of the second position. Believe it or not - this is the most intuitive way to simply play in minor keys. This is not only interesting in a Rock/Blues context but also useful for many Irish Folk pieces which can now be played with a full chord accompaniment! Because of the available chords (d-minor and C-major) the Easy 3rd-variant also could be named "The Reaggae harp";-). Originaly this tuning is based on an idea of Dale King, an American harmonica player, living in Germany.
Last Edited by tmf714 on Apr 02, 2015 7:59 AM
A new tuning is available: The Dale King Tuning is designed to play in 3rd position. As the draw-tones on holes 2 and 3 are tuned 2 half-tones lower than usual, the mid register and the lower register have the same tones.
