Re: [Harp-L] Harmonica Getting Out Of Tune

["David Priestley ( for harp-L)" <dmharpman@xxxxxxxxx>]

 Hi
When you draw bend  hole 4, it is the blow reed that is doing most of 
the work.  In this way you can be putting more stress on the blow 4 
reed, when you draw bend 4, than you may know.

You can check out what I say by taking the cover plates off your harp, 
then bend the draw reed in hole 4 and when it is sounding stun the draw 
reed by putting your finger on it. You will hear the note go on, 
all-be-it with a different tone. So if you look at your note bending 
technique to see if you could play the bend on 4 with less  air,  
passing at a lower pressure. You will find that your reeds keep their 
tuning for longer. A way to approach this improvement in technique would 
be to try making your runs using  a lower volume. When you try this 
approach you may find that the volume doesn't go down by much but the 
air pressure will reduce, which is what you want & so you will get a 
longer playing life out of your reeds..

Over all you can do much to help yourself by reducing the effort that 
you use to get the effects that you seek. You need to get that balance 
of using just enough compression to effect the bend. When you use more 
power than is needed to get a bend the extra effort will go to 
shortening the playing life of your harp. It will also make accurate 
control of the instrument harder to manage.

When I started playing a harp would last me a week and now a harp will 
last for up to ten years. You will see by checking out a video of me 
playing on my website :

http://www.cognitionarts.com/

that I am a player  who likes to give it a bit of fire.
yours-David


On 02/07/2011 10:12, Riccardo Grosso wrote:
> Hello you all!
>
> Maybe it's me, I don't know, but I'm finding out my harps are getting 
> out of tune easily on the last period...especially on 4th hole blown, 
> sometimes drawn...no matter what the key is (but mainly C and D). I'm 
> not a overbender and I don't think to be a hard blower a-la James 
> Cotton...I know I got a fat tone (you can hear about it on the link 
> under my signature)...this thing makes me wonder: it's my technique 
> fault in some point? it's the harmonicas? it's a spell somebody put on 
> me :) ? Any suggestion? THANKS

--
D Priestley AKA Dr Midnight.
England's first  harmonica Guru.

Do feel free get in touch.
Harmonica lessons POA,(10 = 20% discount,&  20 = 25% discount).

I teach from: 51 Barkston Gdns, the basement flat&  On-Line,
Email me or call me to book lessons or get more info.

E-mail= dmharpman@xxxxxxxxx
Website= http://www.cognitionarts.com/
Phone=(44) 0207 373 0295