I wanted to reply to this for ages and never found (never will find ?) time to do it in the extensive way I want to (discussing all the dis/advantages).
So I just want to add the tunings I play to the list of "possible" hurdy-gurdy tunings. I play this tuning (Kirnberger II) in many cases on my baroque instrument: G +2 Ab -7.8 A -4.9 Bb -3.9 B -11.7 C 0 Db -9.8 D +3.9 Eb -5.9 E -13.7 F -2.0 F# -9.8 [just: Db-Ab-Eb-Bb-F-C-G-D, C-E, G-B, D-F#] I usually tune the low A sharper than the higher one, which is easier to bend. On my modern instrument I play all well tempered except: C, D, E, F, G, B (just) and A (around -5) playing music for me is 80% listening and 20% playing. regards, Matthias GW> If you do it by ear, you are likely to get it sounding good in G, bad in C GW> Why don't you do it accurately using your tuning meter GW> Its very quick and easy and works absolutely perfectly GW> You don't have to get it spot on GW> The theory and the data can be found in my paper "Tuning and Temperament" GW> You can find it at http://www.hurdygurdy.org/resources.html GW> The basic adjustments in cents relative to equal temperament for a G string GW> are GW> G 0 GW> Ab +12 GW> A +4 GW> Bb +16 GW> B -14 GW> C -2 GW> C# -10 GW> D +2 GW> Eb +14 GW> E -16 GW> F -4 GW> F# -12 GW> G 0 GW> It works the same in D but use the keyboard note positions not the pitches GW> In other words the first top row key is Ab +12 whatever the tuning GW> Your HG will sound very sweet in common major and minor keys G, C, D etc GW> You get rich 3rds, clean 5ths and woundefully sad minor 3rds GW> Your drones will just melt into the tune GW> You will have temperament issues playing in more remote keys
