Re: [Harp-L] Stretch tuning for diatonic harmonicas

[Richard Hunter <turtlehill@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I used to be a professional piano tuner.  "Stretch" tuning is necessary on a piano, because the stiffness of the strings in the high and low registers in particular interferes with production of harmonics, making those harmonics sound out of tune when they collide with higher pitches.  Stretch tuning is a compromise; by raising pitch slightly in upper registers, you get a better overall balance between harmonics and fundamentals.  You also make the high notes jump out more, because they're now a little higher-pitched, and higher-pitched notes seem louder and more present than lower-pitched notes (all other things being equal).

Stretch tuning is useless on a guitar, because the strings are under far less tension than those in a piano, so the harmonics ring truer.  Stretch tuning is UTTERLY useless on anything that doesn't use strings to generate sound, like, for example, a harmonica.

Tune those octaves true, and don't let them beat.

Regards, Richard Hunter

author, "Jazz Harp" 
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