[Harp-L] Tuning

[Steve Baker <steve@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Something which doesn't appear to have been mentioned in the  
discussion on tuning is the intonation with which notes to be tuned  
are played. In my experience, different players intone at quite  
widely varying pitches, whether when playing "normally" or when  
tuning. This can lead to different players arriving at very different  
results even when using the same tuning system. Reed pitch is not  
absolute and can perhaps best be viewed as a continuum between the  
highest and lowest possible note which the single closing reed can  
produce. In my opinion the best way to tune accurately is to try to  
get as close to the "ceiling" or highest possible pitch as you can  
and tune that, as it is pretty much a constant. I do this by playing  
the reed with the lowest possible air pressure with which it can  
sound properly and even let some air pass between lips and harp in  
order to minimize the pressure difference. This means you are of  
necessity playing extremely quietly when tuning. However, your  
playing intonation will to a greater or lesser degree be lower than  
this pitch, so you need to tune considerably higher than you actually  
want your harmonica to sound when using this method. You also need to  
be able to accurately assess the degree to which your playing  
intonation differs from your tuning intonation. In the chapter on  
tuning in the Harp Handbook is a table showing my preferences for  
reaching a compromise just tuning which will sound at just over  
A=440Hz when I play it.

Of course you can tune using medium air pressure/intonation, which  
may work for you personally, but if you're tuning harps for other  
players you can end up with results which differ considerably from  
the pitch that they wanted. I have had this experience with custom  
harmonicas from different sources on several occasions. It seems to  
me that the margin for error here is often greater than the tiny  
increments which can be measured by strobe tuners.

Steve