Re: [Harp-L] Low Chromatics

[Vern <jevern@xxxxxxx>]

Pitches that low don't carry well without a lot of amplification.  Without a good electronics, you could not be heard playing with a group.  In the bass range, they use larger blow-only reeds and octave pairs to get just a little more punch but they still need amplification.

The higher the frequency, the more energy the sound waves can carry and vice versa.  That is why a high-pitched child's scream is so "ear-spliting" and carries so far.  It is why a well-balanced chorus has many more basses than sopranos.

Vern


On Sep 23, 2012, at 11:47 AM, Jp Pagán wrote:

> I know this is one of those stubbornly recurring questions, but in light of recent advancements I have to wonder why we don't see any chromatics pitched below Tenor C*? 
> 
> Both Seydel and Hohner make diatonics below this range, notably Low Low F, which would be just over half an octave below the Tenor C 270. They sound great as diatonics. Given the use of windsavers on chromatics, I'd think it'd be even more doable there. Or at least say, a Low A or Bb chromatic.
> 
> Is there a real technical limitation I'm missing, or is it just a case of there not being much  demand?
> 
> --JP
> 
> *(maybe more rightly called C3, the C below Middle C) 
>