[Harp-L] Altered reed shapes cont.'

["Dr. Michael J. Marino, DC" <m.marino@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

 Doug,

The main problem with chords on a standard chromatic is that the
instrument has not been voiced after being tuned. This is what
creates the rather harsh chords that you get from most standard off
the shelf chromatic harmonicas and more than a few diatonic harmonicas
as well. There are a few sites for explaining the different parts of
accordions and other members of the free reed family and will look
them up though rick probably knows them better than I. 

Michelle, 

Michael is fine. Yes I have a Doctorate and spent a good number of
years earning it, but rarely use the full title(s) that I have earned
over the years (don't like being stuffy). 

Back to harmonicas, I am NOT trying to create a MIDI sound or even a
single tone from a reed. That in my view is useless. What I am
trying to do is remove or dampen the unwanted frequencies/tones that
are present in a harmonica reed. The goal is to produce a "cleaner"
sounding reed and desired tone. By cleaner I mean that the root tone
(that which is the most desired to be produced from the reed) does so
with a narrow base high amplitude signature when measuring with an
oscilloscope or other advanced tuning equipment that allows you to see
the intensity and range of frequencies covered by the note produced.Â
Also the removal if possible of the frequencies (or their suppression
as much as possible) that are not part of the "normal" progression
frequency and math wise of the tone desired. This wil never produce
a clean MIDI note and is NEVER intended to. IT is intended to create a
tone that is purer, hopefully sweeter and that can hopefully be voiced
easier for using the full possibilities of the instrument.
Â
This will make tuning much easier in some ways (more of a pain in
others) and will hopefully allow voicing (setting up the reeds to work
together as chords) easier as well.

As all ready stated there are folks who may or may not like what
comes out of the research and it may or may not be of use in actual
production. Without testing and a bit of research none of this will be
known and an opportunity to possibly improve this wonderful
instrument loss for awhile (As I highly doubt that i am the first to
have these ideas nor will be the last). If in doing this research we
do come upon a reed shape that is in reality an improvement and is
feasible to produce at a level that makes the instrument affordable.
Well than to not try is to loose not once but many times, for you not
only don't ever reach the possible goal but those who could use the
improved instrument to further their playing ability and the publics
appreciation of the instrument dies as well. That is but a possibility
and may mean very little in reality or not at all. Though I would
point out that the entire free reed family is undergoing global
renaissance and that we all really need to start getting those harps
out more and playing them. Preferably in public once you feel up to
it.

So wait a while, I will keep up dates going and we will see what we
get. It maybe another skunk for the garage, or it maybe one of those
rare roses that get to be set in the living room vase (reference toÂ
Einstein, for those who don't know what i am talking about there).
Enjoy your playing a keep an eye and an ear out and we will see. The
little bit I have started with is showing some interesting promise and
surprises as well.

Michael