Alkire EHarp System tuning question

Loren Larson · Post by **Loren Larson** » 18 Apr 2003 3:01 am

Greetings. I have a 10-string Alkire EHarp. When I got it it was tuned using Bob Hoffnar C tuning. I have been doing some research and found that this was intended to use a special EHarp tuning developed by Eddy Alkire:

E(hi)
C#
B
A
G#
G
F#
F
E
C# (Low)

He had published at least one book in the 30's on using this method. I saw one of these books come thru EBay, but lost out.

Can anyone give me any info on using this system? Does anyone have Aklire's book(s)?

Thanks!

C Dixon · Post by **C Dixon** » 18 Apr 2003 6:16 am

Loren,

I was given an Eddie Alkire Eharp that now has that diatonic tuning. The late Claude Brownell took my guitar and strung it with those strings back in 1997 at the Steel Guitar Extravaganza show in Atlanta.

Claude was a past master at this tuning. He could play AND sing while he played it. Truly an awesome musician and singer.

The tuning is non forgiving. In other words, you gotta hit ONLY those strings you want to at any given moment. I would suggest that the tuning comes the closest to emulating a piano keyboard of any steel guitar tuning I have ever encountered.

Sadly I had to realize it is simply NOT for me. I simply make mistakes that are absolutely awful trying to continually change grips as I am playing a song using that tuning.

So I am going to go back to a 10 string C6th or E13th tuning that is more forgiving.

I don't recall Claude making a single mistake in all the times I heard him play. Truly a mind boggling player to watch and listen to was Claude Brownell. May Jesus rest his soul.

Good luck with it. And may God give you what I do not have when it comes to using that unique tuning.

carl[This message was edited by C Dixon on 18 April 2003 at 07:18 AM.]

Roy Thomson · Post by **Roy Thomson** » 18 Apr 2003 6:47 am

I have been playing the Alkire tuning lately and made some sound files. One is at: http://www.clictab.com/royt/tabmenu.htm
Look for the name Maetune. There is tab to match the MP3.
While there look for Lesson Series link which is a part of the site also. I do a chordal Demo Intro.
I have experimented with writing the Alkire
music format, computer generated using Windows Paint Shop and it does a fantastic job. I can email you a sample if you wish.
I have several sound files not on the site ie:Tenderly, played from Eddie's hand written arrangement and a Fingerstyle song called "One For Eddie".
Like Carl says the tuning is laid out the the keys on a Piano (close intervals). The right hand must be well trained to play it.

Incidently my bottom string is C# but is not low octave. The guage string I use is .036.
Hope this helps and good luck.

Roy

[This message was edited by Roy Thomson on 18 April 2003 at 07:49 AM.][This message was edited by Roy Thomson on 18 April 2003 at 07:51 AM.]

Andy Volk · Post by **Andy Volk** » 18 Apr 2003 9:16 am

Forumite Dave Van allen has some interesting info on Eddie Alkire and the E-Harp on his website:

http://www.users.voicenet.com/~vanallen/

Graham Griffith · Post by **Graham Griffith** » 18 Apr 2003 3:22 pm

Eddie Alkire Junior can sell you some method books and CD's by his father. You can contact him on:
eha.gga.tia@nni.com

Graham

Graham Griffith · Post by **Graham Griffith** » 18 Apr 2003 6:49 pm

A further thought. If you understand music theory, I can provide you with harmonic maps of the Alkire tuning that I have devised. These will show you where to get the various chords and scales within a key and their relationship to one another.

This is a tough,unforgiving tuning but has great rewards and can give you chords comparable and (in some ways) exceeding pedal steel chording (I play pedal steel also). Like all things, it requires practice.

Graham