Re: [Harp-L] Altered reed shapes cont.'

[Michelle LeFree <mlefree@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

 Dr. Michael J. Marino, DC continues:
> 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.Â

I guess I just don't get what you mean when you say, "unwanted 
frequencies/tones." How do you define unwanted tones. I guess you mean 
tones that ~you~ don't want.

>    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.

I am familiar with digital signal processing and spectral analysis.

> 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.

Hmm. I'm trying to understand. I know that certain Asian-made harmonica 
squeal when an overblow is played on them, and that the undesired sound 
is due to reed vibration modes normal to the long axis of the reed. 
Further, people have used nail polish or wax at the base of the reed to 
dampen these lateral vibration modes that produce the annoying high 
frequency squeals. So are you seeking to design a physical reed profile 
that would favor the principle frequency and dampen others?

> 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.

OK.

> 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.

I suggest that you look into CAD-CAM and  Finite Element Analysis (FEA) 
software to create and then analyze the vibrational modes of 4-D models 
of reeds. That would be a costly and time-consuming project but it would 
still be far less so than physically making and testing individual reeds 
one at a time. At any rate, that's how they would do it in the big 
leagues and the results would be worthy of publication in some 
high-falutin' engineering and acoustic journals. Like I say, that's 
where the good Dr. Antaki lives and breathes.

> 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 to 
> 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

Cool, Michael. I am anxious to learn what you discover. Thanks for 
sharing your thoughts with us.

Thanks,

Michelle