[Harp-L] Re: XB-40 and Jazz on Diatonic

[Richard Hunter <turtlehill@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

"Jonathan Metts" wrote:
<"Renowned pianists refuse to play in concert if any key is slightly out
<of tune. They always demand perfect pitch notes played."
<
<Those poor, homeless renowned pianists.  They should be less picky,
<maybe they would get to play a concert once in their lives.  You see,
<it's impossible for every key on a piano to be in tune simultaneously. 
<The most common tuning, therefore, is for every key to be slightly out
<of tune, but just very slightly, and this strategy keeps any key from
<being way out of tune.  You could perfectly tune one side or the other,
<at least a few keys at a time, but it sounds horrible when you start
<playing on the other side.
<
<Harp content: Can someone tell me if diatonic harps are the same way,
<or are they short enough that you can successfully have the whole
<instrument in tune at once?

The short answer is no, diatonic harmonicas are not the same way,
because pianos are stringed instruments and harmonicas are not.  The
longer answer is that bass strings in pianos are subject to a phenomenon
known as "inharmonicity."  Briefly, the stiffness of bass strings
inhibits the string's ability to produce accurate harmonics (which
result from the string's vibrating at specific points, or "nodes," along
its length).  So when the fundamental of a bass note is in tune, the
higher harmonics may conflict with the fundamentals of upper-register
notes, which occupy the same sonic space.  This problem is more severe
in pianos with shorter bass strings, i.e. uprights and baby grands,
because shorter bass strings are also stiffer. 

Harmonicas have no strings, hence don't suffer from this problem.

Thanks, Richard Hunter
hunterharp.com