Re: [Harp-L] Something I've Started Noticing

["Jim Greenwald" <staggerin@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi Sam
If you know your harp is tuned then don't change it 'cus another recording
is right around the corner that's "off" in some other manner - flat or
sharp. With Juke as an example, I picked four different CD compilations that
contain the same released version that we all are familiar with. The tunings
relative to A=440 varied from 8 cents flat to 49 cents flat (quick & dirty).
So you can see it's fruitless to tune you harp to match off pitch
recordings.
Instead, you pitch-correct the recordings; temporarily during playback, or
with a permanent p-c copy. I've tried many software programs, and you can
find other people's experiences in the archives, but my fav is "Transcribe!"
from http://www.seventhstring.com  - no connection & usual disclaimers.
For older material there are a lot of causes for the pitch difference - only
the production people would know if there's any intent behind a specific
case. Tape shrinkage & tape machine speed variation during recoding, copying
or mastering are possible contributors. These anomalies get passed on into
the digital realm.
FWIW, my interest and success in learning old material (not very much of it
originally harmonica) has really increased since I started pitch-correcting
stuff. Pitch analysis is another benefit of this kiind of sw manipulation,
especially in dealing with "fretless" instruments.

Cheers,
Jim

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "samblancato" <samblancato@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Friday, March 17, 2006 4:08 PM
Subject: [Harp-L] Something I've Started Noticing


> Hello People,
>
>
>
> I'm wondering about something I've started noticing with regards to the
> pitch of my harp playing.  I started playing along with two songs I have 
> on
> CDs the other day, LW's "Juke" and James Cotton's "You Don't Have To Go". 
> I
> sound off; in pitch.  Juke, E calls for an A harp.  Can it be that these
> cuts were recorded slow so that when played back for recording they are
> slightly higher in pitch or do I need to tune my harps up a hair? - just 
> to
> brighten up the pitch a little?  Has anybody ever noticed this sort of
> thing?
>
>
>
> Sam Blancato, Pittsburgh
>
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