Re: [Harp-L] Just Intonation for Blues?

["Bob Laughlin" <rlaughlin@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

As far as tuning is concerned, relating to the "A442", or the "A443"
standard, wouldn't that be a question of which reed one is tuning? Don't
some reeds, particularly the draw reeds go flatter than others when played?
I would hazard a guess that the amount of "sharpness adjustment" would be
unique to each reed, wouldn't it?

I've never tried tuning my reeds, but one day I believe I'll give it a try.
I did a comparison today between a well-used Lee Oskar C harp and a somewhat
newer and less-used Golden Melody C. It seemed that most notes were similar,
but some were perceivably flatter than others on the the Oskar, relative to
the GM. Is this probably due to a different tuning, i.e., Just Intonation
vs. Equal Temperament, or just because the Oskar has been used more.

And more to the point, where is there a list of harps that are done in JI,
vs. one of harps done in ET? Where can that info be found?

BL

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Winslow Yerxa" <winslowyerxa@xxxxxxxxx>
To: <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Wednesday, March 19, 2008 6:52 AM
Subject: Re: [Harp-L] Just Intonation for Blues?


> If you learn to tune, you can have your preferred combination of harp
model, covers, and intonation.
>
> Tuning is not hard but it does take some patience. Pat's advice is
thorough and excellent. (The only advice I disagree with for *my* personal
use is his recommendation to tune a harp to A443. For me this is just too
sharp for the musicians I play with. 442 works but it still puts me sharp.)
>
> The 7-limit just intonation that has been used in the past on some harps
makes the Draw 5 (and 9) sound really flat melodically, though it sounds
super smooth in chords. You might want to look at 19-limit just instead,
especially as that note is so important in 3rd position.
>
> Winslow
>
> PS: harp cover shape is partly a matter of aesthetics, with many players
preferring traditional shapes. However, there is also strong player belief
that cover shape affects tone, projection, and even reed response. So cover
shape is more than a matter of manufacturers being hidebound.
>
> Bill Hines <billhines4@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote: It's time for me to replace
some harps. I was originally playing Lee
> Oskars when I started a few years ago, but switched to the Golden
> Melodies because I was finding them much easier to bend, and focusing
> primarily on single note melodic lines at the time, found them to sound
> better. Plus, they felt way better in my hands and seemed easier to get
> a seal around, being smooth shaped and all (I don't understand why they
> are still making harps in the old angular sharp-edge marine band form
> factor, not very ergonomic, for nostalgia I'm guessing but whatever).
>
> So these days, I'm a *little* better and have taken to playing octaves
> and chords. Hmm. The Golden Melodies don't sound too good. I've been
> reading on Pat Missin's site on some of this tuning stuff, and it hasn't
> been discussed here in a while. Since I'm playing pretty much amplified,
> 2nd position chicago blues, am I better off then with harps that are
> Just Intonation or close to it? I was going to buy some Firebreaths (I
> have one), they're expensive but a beautiful harp and I appreciate the
> smoothness/comfort of holding them and also that they are crush proof
> (I've dented many a harp, don't ask). But they're equal tempered like
> the GMs.
>
> I was thinking about getting a JI type harp to see if that sounds
> different. I understand some of the Herings are. I've been told some of
> the Seydels are JI *and* have the smooth form factor I like - the
> Sessions and Favorites.
>
> Can anyone comment on all of this, i.e should I care about tuning and
> are these good 'blues' harps? Or should I finally crack open the Rupert
> Oysler DVD I got a while back and learn how to retune my GMs or
> Firebreath - is it hard at all?  What will a JI harp sound like when I
> move to 3rd position, which I've been trying to do at the jams for minor
> songs?
>
> PS My daughter just called me in the room - Chikezie just busted out a
> harp on american idol. It wasn't good. Damn, there we go down a notch
> again. Simon Cowell said "It was going ok and then you broke out the
> harmonica, which was literally atrocious" (and he was right).  Do we
> need to license?
>
> Thanks in advance,
>
> Bill Hines
> Hershey, PA
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