Why is it that if you compare the key arrangements of a gurdy tuned in G, that the keys (naturals,sharps and flats) all match the keys of a piano. This would...
Hi Mark, The classical tuning (G/C) has a keyboard deliberately arranged like that of a piano, and as you observe, all is simple. I understand G/D instruments...
Hi Mark This happens because C major has no flats or sharps on its scale G major has one sharp F# and D major has two Sharps C# and F# when you change from C...
Or, in another way if I have this right, there are 12 semitones in the octave and only by convention, the names of each of those notes are sometimes a simple...
Paul, For the music classes I'm doing, I've just bought the set texts. Given that I had to look up the very first word on the first page, this is going to be...
When I started to play the 'gurdy I could already play the piano so I knew my way around a keyboard quite well. That was OK to start with since I played a GC...
Hi Mark, Your first point brings to mind the aspect of HG construction: that if one wanted to design a HG specifically to play with a D open string, why not ...
... I think that switching between two keyboard layouts is helped by the fact that they are a 1) a reasonable distance, tonally, apart from each other (almost...
Tuners. I have just recently clipped on and begun using an Intelli tuner IMT600 (Chromatic) to my instrument. This type of tuner picks up vibration, not sound,...
Richard, Yes, I have one of these doohickeys too (had it for over a year). What I find is that sometimes it works fine and at other times, it just does not...
Sounds good (and cheap). A question before I rush out and buy one. Is the calibration enough to set just temperament?. (My present tuner is an ET one which has...
No gurdies but some of you might be interested: Hello, Just a quick plug for a concert we are playing as part of the regular series at the church at Aust ,...
Hi Richard, I agree that providing transposed music for transposing instruments is the norm. People who play a transposed insturment expect it and the band...
Hi Mike, ... I've just started playing my clarinet again after > 20 yrs, and I am grappling with this question. At the moment I am still transposing, but I'd...
hi i have a gig tonight wednesday at the prince of wales , moseley, birmingham , playing hurdy-gurdy for a medieval banquet so if anyone is free, hungry and...
... The few folk sax players I know can play concert-pitch notation at sight but prefer to transpose the music beforehand. I think relearning fingerings is a...
Colin, I think trying to set just temperament with it might be a bit ambitious. It's readings however are very stable so you might manage. The salient point is...
Dear Mike, Ha-haaa, SO, you admit it. DG hurdy-gurdy players are 'special CASES'. I always suspected it. :-) It was about time you all 'came out of the closet'...
I know there are tuners out there which will give an accurate reading both sides of the actual "equal" pitch so you can tune so many cents from that to get an...
Hi Colin I use my old mic tuner to set up my instrument to just temperament before I go any where to play and while I am out I use the clip on type to tune...
Time moves on and tuners are improving all the time. I've recently come across these - 230140267954 on ebay and they are perfect for the job. They clip...
Hi Colin Might I respectfully suggest that the TV be turned off while playing the hurdy-gurdy ? Just a thought :~} ... reading both sides of the actual...
Thanks everyone for your comments and information with this chewy issue of transpositon. I shall investigate and experiment further. Many thanks, Mark. ... ...
Hi Richard, I sent you an email about a month ago (off-list). Did you receive it? I've not heard back so I assume it didn't get there. It included a list of...
Enzo, Erm, well I did reply, it must have got lost in the ether somewhere. What I said was that I have obtained the music and will be ready to play the secundo...
Maybe this tune could be useful for a workshop as it's quite simple yet just quirky enough to be interesting. I've called it Tiramisu and you can see and hear...
