Re: [Harp-L] question about tuning a harp

["Vern Smith" <jevern@xxxxxxx>]

At the factory, they use a box connected to a centrifugal pump that has an 
opening slot for one reed.  This sounds one reed continuously.  If you are 
handy with tools, you can build such a device using a tank-type vacuum 
cleaner, a 2KW light dimmer to make it run slower, quieter, and at 5 instead 
of 80 inches of water (a measure of pressure).  More details about the one 
that I built if you are interested.

A better solution is for you to learn to "kiss the reedplate".

1. Hold the reedplate...
...by the long edges ,
...with the reeds horizontal,
...with the reed-side of the plate toward you
...with your thumbs and index fingers in line with the ends of the reed to 
be sounded
...with your fingers NOT touching the reed.

2. Place the reed to your lips...
...to form an air seal around the reed
...with your lips close to but NOT touching the reed
...if you are careful with the valves, this can be done on chromatic plates

3. Blow to sound the reed...even the draw reeds!  *
...while watching your electronic tuner
...it is also possible to turn the plate over and draw but
...blow works best for me

* The reed doesn't know or care if you are blowing or drawing.  All it knows 
is that there is a difference in pressure that causes air to flow through 
the slot.

4. Embouchures...
...Low / long reeds respond best to a minimum volume embouchure where the 
lips and tongue are as close to the reed as possible without touching it.
....High / short reeds respond best to a high-volume embouchure,  Hold your 
mouth/tongue as though you had a pear inside.
...Mid-range reeds respond to almost any embouchure.
...The above is non-intuitive.  I cannot explain the reasons.

With just a little practice, you should be able to tune your harps without 
having to repeatedly reassemble them.  If you discover that the assembled 
harp is a tiny bit sharper or flatter than the kissed reedplate, then offset 
the kissed tuning to compensate. I think that you will agree that this 
technique is a great time-saver.

Incidentally, this convincingly demonstrates how unimportant the mechanical 
parts of the harp are to the sound.  You can get a full, rich harmonica tone 
without any participation of the comb and covers.  It denies any effects 
arising from the materials and/or minor differences in shape of the comb and 
covers.  It does demonstrate the importance of player embouchure, especially 
at the low and high ends.

Vern
Visit my harmonica website www.Hands-Free-Chromatic.7p.com

----- Original Message ----- 
From: <yumpin_yimminie@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: "harp list" <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Thursday, August 16, 2007 8:52 AM
Subject: [Harp-L] question about tuning a harp


I've got some tuning that needs to get done. Have been curious about how it 
is done at a factory or at a customizer. When I go through this I end up 
assembling and disassembling a lot. I mean a whole lot. I mean so often that 
I try to ignore the out of tune-ness until it can't be ignored anymore.

But surely at factories or customizers they don't actually assemble the 
harmonicas and blow into them to find if they are in tune.

Would appreciate if someone(s) could fill me in on the how it is done 
quickly.

Thanks much!

Have a Great Day,
Jim

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