The tangents need to be adjustable from side to side, which is pretty hard to do if they are underneath the key. The classic friction-fit tangent would also be difficult to install, for the same reason.
Presented with this problem on a diatonic instrument he had built, Swedish luthier Leif Eriksen took an interesting approach: he installed what is usually the upper row of keys UNDERNEATH the existing keys. I tried playing it for a minute or two, and it just boggled my brain too much. With time I'm sure I could get used to it. Alden > Ok, I'm newly bit by the hurdy gurdy bug so I'm researching and listening and > reading everything I can get my hands on... > > My question is could the tangents for the white/top keys be placed on the > underside of the keys, or upside down from the bottom row of keys.. I > thought of this because I saw a gurdy that looked like It couldn't be > upgraded to be fully chromatic because their wasn't enough room for the > tangents unless they were on the under side... Am I was off base here or has > someone done this before.. Just a thought.... Seth >
