Re: [Harp-L] Pitch and timbre

["John F. Potts" <hvyj@xxxxxxx>]

Buck,

Of course i am assuming the horns/horns ARE playing in tune.

As far as my harmonicas are concerned, personally, I ONLY play ET  
harps because I think anything else makes me sound out of tune with  
other musicians. Most of my playing is with other musicians.  I  
usually play Suzuki Hammonds or Quicksilver custom GMs.  Hammonds are  
tuned to A442  OOB and i have Mike Fugazzi tune my customs to A442.   
Based on experience, I find that playing pure ET 442 puts me in tune  
with the other musicians who are tuned to A440. (As you probably  
know, harps tend to depress in pitch a little when played due to  
breath pressure).

So, by playing ONLY ET A442 I am able to eliminate the variables on  
my end.  if the horn player is out of tune, the bandleader will  
usually deal with that. So, for me, it doesn't seem all that subjective.

JP





On Dec 10, 2011, at 12:49 PM, Buck Worley wrote:

> But what if the horn is out of tune? Plus some harps ie Lee Oskars  
> and Hohner Golden Melodys are A441 or even A442 and 12 Tone Equal  
> Tempered intonation while Marine Bands and others popular diatonics  
> are some type of Just Intonation ie 7-Limit or 19 Limit et al. This  
> is so subjective that I have to disagree with your statement.
>
> Respectfully,
>
> BW
>
> > To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
> > From: hvyj@xxxxxxx
> > Date: Thu, 8 Dec 2011 11:42:20 -0500
> > Subject: [Harp-L] Pitch and timbre
> >
> > For me, the acid test of good pitch and timbre on a diatonic is when
> > i am working with a horn player or horn players and play lines in
> > unison with the horn/horns.. If my intonation matches the horn  
> and my
> > timbre provides a good tonal blend, i feel like I'm doing okay.
> >
> > FWIW
> >
> > JP