Re: [Harp-L] FLAT!! But Maybe Not??

["Joe Spiers" <joemopar@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Sometimes the "helpful" guitar player will tell you the key of the harp he 
assumes you should be playing to play in the key they're playing 
in........would've been really bad luck for it to happen twice in a row, but 
maybe they were both playing in B?


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Elizabeth Hess" <TrackHarpL@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <icemanle@xxxxxxx>
Cc: <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Wednesday, March 31, 2010 6:09 PM
Subject: Re: [Harp-L] FLAT!! But Maybe Not??


> On Mar 31, 2010, at 6:45 PM, icemanle@xxxxxxx wrote:
>
> > Recheck your harmonicas w/tuner or a keyboard that you KNOW is tuned to 
> > A-440.
>
> All of my harps are within 10 cents of 442, none flat.
>
>
> > Sounds like the band had used an improper reference point to tune 
> > themselves. When this happens, there is no way you can compensate on 
> > harmonica. When this happens and you realize it, DO NOT JOIN IN ON 
> > HARMONICA. (unless you have a full set of harmonicas and can recognize 
> > what is described in the next sentence and adjust)
>
> Right.
>
>
> > I've been in situations where the band will tune everything down 1/2 step 
> > a la Jimi Hendrix/Stevie Ray, so that when you look at the bass player 
> > playing an open lowest string, it is Eb rather than E, and not mention 
> > this to the harmonica player they have sit in with them.
>
> I  *might*  have believed this if it had been a single instance, and not 
> posted about it here.  But two venues, in two states, with two different 
> bands and two sound system set-ups triggered my query.
>
> It seems unlikely to me that a band that likes me would play that kind of 
> trick, and also unlikely that the house band at an open jam would do this. 
> But I will be wary of the possibility in the future.  Thank you for the 
> heads up.
>
> Elizabeth