Re: [Harp-L] Sharp Harp?

[Winslow Yerxa <winslowyerxa@xxxxxxxxx>]

Try setting your tuner to 442, 443, or 444. Despite the A440 marking on some Hohner models, nearly all harmonicas are tuned to a higher pitch reference. Partly because A444 is the de facto standard in Germany, partly because player's breath usually depresses pitch by some amount.

Winslow
 
Winslow Yerxa
Author, Harmonica For Dummies, ISBN 978-0-470-33729-5
            Harmonica Basics For Dummies, ASIN B005KIYPFS
            Blues Harmonica For Dummies, ISBN 978-1-1182-5269-7
Resident Harmonica Expert, bluesharmonica.com
Instructor, Jazzschool for Music Study and Performance


________________________________
 From: Robert Rowe <robertrowe2@xxxxxxx>
To: "harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx" <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx> 
Sent: Tuesday, August 28, 2012 1:57 PM
Subject: [Harp-L] Sharp Harp?
 
I must be real bored today because I got out my Peterson strobe and checked the pitch on a few of my out of the box Crossovers. They're all sharp by about 20 cents. The thirds are only 10-13 cents sharp (expected from the compromise tuning), but the rest are around 20 cents. Okay, my 2 draw wasn't quite as sharp as my 3 blow, but within a couple of cents. Covers are stamped A440. Tuner is set to A440. What gives?  Are the Crossovers really tuned to A440?  My Peterson is dead-on with an A440 tuning fork. 

RKR