Re: [Harp-L] Harp tuning...

[Winslow Yerxa <winslowyerxa@xxxxxxxxx>]

This is a personal choice. The most widely used in North America, at least by voice vote on this and other forums, seems to be A442.  Harmonica players tend to depress pitch slightly when they play, and A442 helps with this. You can always adjust pitch downward while playing, but you can't adjust it upward (overbending aside).

But again, that's a personal matter. Some players depress pitch so much that they tune to A446 or even A448. And if you're playing with symphonic string players, they tend to tune around A446. So it also depends on circumstance.

I'd suggest that you try out A442. Tune one or two harps to that, and see how it works out in your customary playing environments.

Winslow Yerxa

Author, Harmonica For Dummies ISBN 978-0-470-33729-5

Resident expert at bluesharmonica.com

Harmonica instructor, jazzschool.com

Columnist, harmonicasessions.com

--- On Mon, 2/22/10, Dave Taylor <dtaylor1@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

From: Dave Taylor <dtaylor1@xxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [Harp-L] Harp tuning...
To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
Date: Monday, February 22, 2010, 2:36 PM

I'm just starting to learn harp tuning, and am a little confused as to what the A4 frequency should be... 440, 442, 443, or what ever... I would appreciate any advise...
Aloha