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

["Mad Dog" <maddog@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi Elizabeth,

 

Since you were just called up to stage, is it possible you harp was cold.  I
have that happen to me before in the winter when my harps have been in the
car.  A little quick blowing & sucking before I get on stage always makes it
alright.

 

Mad Dog

www.maddogharp.com

_____________________________

Message: 10

Date: Wed, 31 Mar 2010 18:01:22 -0400

From: Chesper Nevins <chespernevins@xxxxxxxxx>

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

To: Elizabeth Hess <TrackHarpL@xxxxxxxxxxxx>

Cc: Harp-L <Harp-L@xxxxxxxxxx>

Message-ID:

          <p2xbcaf98a1003311501p3855b97k940a405cb06e26d@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>

Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

 

I have resorted to carrying my digital tuner with me and try to get a

note from the band before playing (and get a reading on the tuner if

possible, without being too conspicuous).

 

That way I can at least correlate what my tuner says about the band,

what I know my harmonicas to be (442 or whatever), and the sound I

experience playing with the group.

 

Or at the very least, I play a note with someone from the group before

the tune to avoid any surprises.

 

I have decided in general that a 442 harp sounds good with instruments

tuned around 440, a 444 harp with instruments at 442, etc.

 

What a rotten feeling!

 

I suppose you could also have tried any of your harps from the

audience (softly) while they were playing previous tunes just to

check.

 

I haven't really gotten as far as carrying a number of different harps

at 440, 442, 444, etc...

 

J

 

 

------------------------------

 

Message: 11

Date: Wed, 31 Mar 2010 18:23:17 -0400

From: Elizabeth Hess <TrackHarpL@xxxxxxxxxxxx>

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

To: Chesper Nevins <chespernevins@xxxxxxxxx>

Cc: Harp-L <Harp-L@xxxxxxxxxx>

Message-ID: <475d462df777d94e72e0eb7a8496a7f3@xxxxxxxxxxxx>

Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed

 

 

On Mar 31, 2010, at 6:01 PM, Chesper Nevins wrote:

 

> I have resorted to carrying my digital tuner with me and try to get a

> note from the band before playing (and get a reading on the tuner if

> possible, without being too conspicuous).

 

Thank you for that suggestion.  I will start putting my tuner in my 

compact gig kit.

 

 

> Or at the very least, I play a note with someone from the group before

> the tune to avoid any surprises.

 

I will do this on future occasions as opportunity permits.

 

 

> I have decided in general that a 442 harp sounds good with instruments

> tuned around 440, a 444 harp with instruments at 442, etc.

 

We're not talking a couple of hertz or cents, here.  It sounded for all 

the world like I'd pulled the  *wrong harp*  out of the case.  (Heavy 

squinting in dim light eliminated that as the problem, though.)

 

 

> What a rotten feeling!

 

Yah!

 

 

> I suppose you could also have tried any of your harps from the

> audience (softly) while they were playing previous tunes just to

> check.

 

In general, yes.  On the occasion of the gig, I wasn't expecting to 

play.  The band leader started his groove, then looked right at me and 

said, into the mic, "Is there a harmonica player in the house?"  (Thank 

you, Guitar Mikey, Clarksdale, MS!)

 

 

> I haven't really gotten as far as carrying a number of different harps

> at 440, 442, 444, etc...

> 

> J

 

 

Hoo, boy!  :-)

E.

 

 

 

 

 

 

------------------------------

 

Message: 12

Date: Wed, 31 Mar 2010 19:09:04 -0400

From: Elizabeth Hess <TrackHarpL@xxxxxxxxxxxx>

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

To: icemanle@xxxxxxx

Cc: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx

Message-ID: <f344b7af598d120423e9264d15c95fd9@xxxxxxxxxxxx>

Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

 

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

 

 

 

 

End of Harp-L Digest, Vol 79, Issue 66

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