[Harp-L] Valve Value

["Jim, \"Turbodog\" Antaki, \(PhD\)" <turbodog@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Thanks, Phil.
 
Everything you say makes sense.  (But I'm still wondering why holes 2 and 3
draw are not routinely half valved.  I do not appreciate the downside since
there are no useful overblows on those holes.. yet the improvement is
dramatic.
 
Jim

  _____  

From: philharpn@xxxxxxx [mailto:philharpn@xxxxxxx] 
Sent: Sunday, March 18, 2012 6:18 PM
To: turbodog@xxxxxxxxxxxxx; harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: [Harp-L] Valve Value


The value of complete half-valving (1-6 draw reeds; 7-4 blow reeds) extends
beyond simply adding blow bends to the 1-6 holes and draw bends to the 7-10
holes.  Each blow bend is lower by a half-step. Some get more. Same with the
draw  

The additional valves allow the slight bends that are used in creating
vibrato and adding inflection to notes that would not otherwise allow this. 

Standard chromatics with full windsavers (all blow & draw) are capable of
single reed blow and draws on every windsaver hole. Professional chromatic
players have been doing this for centuries. Others not so much; they bought
a chromatic so they didn't have to bend.


The reason all the holes are half-valved is to provide a uniform tone
(timbre) that would otherwise vary if some reeds were valved and other not.


Half-valving does not alter standard bends: draw 1-4,6 and blow 8-10.

Half-valving prevents overblows or overbends and overdraws.

Hope this helps,
Phil