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Various tunings

There are currently two kinds of tunings :

the tuning known as "Traditionnal", or "Auvergnat"
Click on the partition to hear each note, then the tuning.

According to the dial tone of of the piece, one uses the tenor or bass drone (never together) and one tunes the trumpet in C for a play in C, or D for a play in G.
the tuning known as "Bourbonnais" or "Berrichon"
Click on the partition to hear each note, then the tuning.

According to the dial tone of of the piece, one uses the tenor or bass drone (never together) and one tunes the trumpet in G for a play in G, or A for a play in D.

Traditionally, the mouche is not used a lot. One can notice that the emitted sounds covers more largely on the sound spectrum, althrough the melody tessiture remains the same as the one for the "traditional" tuning (two octaves). This tuning is particular because the melody strings are tuned to the octave one of the other. This produces a richer sound, all the more since the sharp melody string, very tense, has a very clean sonority. On the other hand, because of the difference of diameter and tension between the two melody strings, it is difficult to obtain the accuracy beyond acute C (10th black key).
- Others tunings exist as (MlS.: G/D - BD.: G"), or (Mls.: G/D - Tromp.: C - TD: C'), or the tuning in A-D.

In conclusion, one can say that if no tuning obtains the unanimity among the hurdy-gurdy player, it is because both of them have their qualities and one can find one or the other interesting depending on the instrument. Each one will thus choose, after a few tests, the one which he finds is more suitable, althrough the ideal is to have two hurdy-guries and use the two tunings...

The choice's strings

Each one following its tastes, must carry out some tests to determine the best diameter to use for each string. That is why it is convenient to use, for the unwound strings, the strings of a diatonic toothing-stone in non-varnished bowel, because they are long (1.2 m) and there are all the diameters.

For information only, you can spend about 44 FF for a complete strings sets (in the case of a hurdy-gurdy with 6 strings). Those can be obtained at SAVAREZ, MANUCORDE (through violin makers oer merchants of music) or at SOFRACOB (unwound strings - to ask their catalogue the (33).04.74.53.32.30 - sale with the private individuals).

Some indications for the choice of the diameters :
Click on the tuning's name to hear the sonority.

Tuning "Traditionnal":

Melody strings
tune in g' E n°15 (3rd octave)
or d of violin
or SAVAREZ BRH 94
or SOFRACOB DT 94

Trumpet string
tune c' B n°18 (3rd octave)
or d of violin
or SAVAREZ BRH 94
or SOFRACOB DT 94

Alto drone
tune in g B n°25 ( 4th octave )
or a of cello
or SAVAREZ BRH 109
or SOFRACOB DT 110

Tenor drone
tune in c g of cello (wound string)
SAVAREZ BF 422

Bass drone
tune in G or C C of cello (wound string)
SAVAREZ BF 1002

Tuning "Bourbonnais" :

Melody String 1
tune in d" A n°5 ( 1st octave )
or a of violin
or SAVAREZ BRH 74

Melody String 2
tune in d' B n°18 ( 3rd octave )
or d of violin
or SAVAREZ BRH 97
or SOFRACOB DT 98

Trumpet String
tune in d' B n°18 ( 3rd octave )
or d of violin
or SAVAREZ BRH 94
or SOFRACOB DT 94

Alto Drone
tune in g or a B n°25 ( 4th octave )
or a of cello
or SAVAREZ BRH 100
or SOFRACOB DT 100

Tenor Drone
tune in d g of cello
SAVAREZ BF 402

Bass Drone
tune in D or G C of cello
SAVAREZ BF 10002

Tuning in "A-D" (Vendée region) :

Melody Strings
tune in a" SAVAREZ BRH 89

Trumpet String
tune en d' SAVAREZ BRH 104

Alto Drone
tune en a SAVAREZ BRH 109

Tenor Drone
tune in d SAVAREZ BF 592

Bass Drone
tune in D SAVAREZ BF 10002

Indications and precise for the maintenance and the adjustement of the following elements :

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French version

Melody strings tune in g'	E n°15 (3rd octave) or d of violin or SAVAREZ BRH 94 or SOFRACOB DT 94
Trumpet string tune c'	B n°18 (3rd octave) or d of violin or SAVAREZ BRH 94 or SOFRACOB DT 94
Alto drone tune in g	B n°25 ( 4th octave ) or a of cello or SAVAREZ BRH 109 or SOFRACOB DT 110
Tenor drone tune in c	g of cello (wound string) SAVAREZ BF 422
Bass drone tune in G or C	C of cello (wound string) SAVAREZ BF 1002

Melody String 1 tune in d"	A n°5 ( 1st octave ) or a of violin or SAVAREZ BRH 74
Melody String 2 tune in d'	B n°18 ( 3rd octave ) or d of violin or SAVAREZ BRH 97 or SOFRACOB DT 98
Trumpet String tune in d'	B n°18 ( 3rd octave ) or d of violin or SAVAREZ BRH 94 or SOFRACOB DT 94
Alto Drone tune in g or a	B n°25 ( 4th octave ) or a of cello or SAVAREZ BRH 100 or SOFRACOB DT 100
Tenor Drone tune in d	g of cello SAVAREZ BF 402
Bass Drone tune in D or G	C of cello SAVAREZ BF 10002

Melody Strings tune in a"	SAVAREZ BRH 89
Trumpet String tune en d'	SAVAREZ BRH 104
Alto Drone tune en a	SAVAREZ BRH 109
Tenor Drone tune in d	SAVAREZ BF 592
Bass Drone tune in D	SAVAREZ BF 10002