Re: [Harp-L] Re: First serious foray into tuning questions

[Tom Albanese <reedwrecker@xxxxxxxxx>]

I just want to say that I think it's awesome that Jimmy Gordon would
personally respond to this query, and in such an informative way. I myself
found this info on tuning octaves extremely useful. Thanks, Jimmy!

All the best to you my friend!

tom albanese

On Thu, Feb 25, 2010 at 12:10 PM, j.gordon <jgordon@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> Hi Michael,
> To avoid breaking reeds this way try not to push the blow reed too far as
> only the tip needs to be exposed. To downtune use the scraper on the inside.
> When tuning octaves it is the lower pitched reed that should be slightly
> sharper than the higher reed, not the other way around as you say. The 3 a
> touch higher, the 9 not so much if at all. This is the way to get octaves in
> tune, and each harp, key and playing style would require a unique offset-
> there isn't an exact formula that will work universally. 0.7 cent would be
> inmperceptable, but 7 cents would be audible.
> The trick is to play the note at it's highest pitch and not let the reed
> load up.
> There are many considerations but for the octaves it is the lower reed that
> is more likely to have the pitch depressed when playing octaves.
> All the best,
> Jimmy
> http://customharmonicas.com
>
>
>
> Michael Rubin asks:
>
> So I have been studying Sleigh's manual.  I have got an old harp and
> have broken 3 blow reeds by using the paper clip tool and blow reed
> support tool.  How do you do that better.
>
> As per Richard's instruction, I am tuning the higher note of an octave
> combination a hair sharper than the lower octave note.  For example, I
> will tune hole 5 blow 0.7 cents sharper than hole 2 blow.  That sounds
> good, but when I tune hole 8 blow another 0.7 cents sharper, I get the
> octave beating.
>
> Is there a way to listen to the beating to access which note is too
> high or low?  Since 2 and 5 blow sound nice, my instinct is to retune
> hole 8, but I want to follow octave beating rules.  Then, is there a
> way to listen to the beating and access whether or not the note needs
> to be flattened or sharpened?
> Thanks,
> Michael Rubin
> Michaelrubinharmonica.com
>
>