[Harp-L] re: TONE/tone

[Jonathan Ross <jross38@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

You can adjust the timbre of what you play in many fairly significant  
ways.  But, I find that despite this wind players are almost always  
recognizable and distinct.  I would perhaps differentiate (and didn't  
enough in my original post--indeed, mixed the two improperly) between  
timbre and tone--the former can be shaped in many ways and is a more  
fluid thing.  The later is usually distinct and only alterable to a  
small degree.

Stevie Wonder is a good example of someone who has a recognizable and  
distinct tone on many different harmonica types (chromatic, diatonic,  
XB-40) and yet can and does use many different timbres when he  
plays.  It's why even when someone plays in a different format or  
genre than I'm used to hearing them in (and their playing is  
stylistically different from their norm) I usually find myself  
recognizing who the player is.  This is not just true for harmonica,  
but all wind players--sax, trumpet, etc...

I would say that all the examples of how to shape and change the  
sound given were examples of changing the timbre but not the tone.   
Perhaps it's a somewhat meaningless difference, but then perhaps not.

Another example is the late great Douglas Tate.  Douglas was a master  
at shaping the timbre of what he played, using many techniques  
including a more detailed study of hand cup resonance than anyone  
else I've ever seen.  But no matter what, he had a distinct tone that  
came through it all.  I'd consider Adler in the same vein--massive  
changes in timbre, but distinctive and recognizable.





JR Ross