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

[buzz krantz <buzzo@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Man that happens so often.  I always ask for the concert key & that 
playing a have step down really pisses me off.  I won't play with them.
buzz...........................................

Joe Spiers wrote:
> 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