RE: [Harp-L] how far?

["A.C." <ac@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

If you just want to try out the tuning you can lower a reed by as much as 6
half notes (or more) by sticking little bit of duct tape (don't laugh) at
the end of the reed for weight.

Cut the duct tape so it doesn't hang over the reed itself, so the reed can
resonate. I cut little squares and pile them on top of each other. It's
great for testing out a new tuning. If you don't like it or if you mess it
up you can peel the duct tape off and you're back where you started.


I also had a lot better luck using a rotary grinder to drop or raise a pitch
by a lot, but to make a bigger pitch change (I would think anything more
than 3 half notes) on a harmonica you'll end up using as a concert
instrument I would consider replacing reeds and then fine tuning them with a
file.

A.C.


-----Original Message-----
From: harp-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx [mailto:harp-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf
Of ynfdwas@xxxxxxxxx
Sent: Saturday, March 21, 2009 11:11 PM
To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [Harp-L] how far?

Hello Reed Scrapers,
 
I'm working on a Newton Fourkey tuning, retuning from
standard diatonic plates.
 
How far can you go with a reed? Do you get more
distance (pitch change) out of LOWERING a reed than
RAISING? (Lowering a reed surely seems to come faster
than filing away the fat, double-thick tip of a low
reed.)
 
I started in the middle of the harp (holes 5 and 6)
nearest the final pitches I wanted, recognizing the
tuning "compresses" the range with more whole step
intervals, than the thirds and fourths in Standard
Diatonic.
 
Draw 1 has to pull up a 4th, and Blow 1 has to pull up
a 5th!   Hole 10 blow has to go down a 6th. Don't know
yet if I can take a reed that far.
 
Robert Hale, "the Duke Of Wail"
DUKEofWAIL.com
Gilbert, Arizona
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