Re: [Harp-L] Embouchure for tuning

[Joe Spiers <harpwrench@xxxxxxxxx>]

Try to be aware and sure that you breath from the diaphragm, if you "chest breath" then the resonance of your respiratory tract changes as you fill up/run out of air. 

 Not familiar with the tuners mentioned, but if they're LCD needle type it's normal to see variances of 2-4 cents due to the low resolution. So a longer tone will usually make the needle jump around. It helps to sound a shorter note- not too brief but not too long- and see where the needle bounces too. When you get the hang of that technique you can have better success with that type of tuner. 

I always tune the notes with covers sandwiched on. Covers themselves do not change the pitch IMO but the embouchre change does. 

I've used a couple different tuning tables (or bench as you call it), and not gotten results anywhere close to being accurate enough for what I do. If you could get one that calibrates your working plate to a reference plate, it would be better but the fact is that reeds are little individuals that all respond a little differently. 

Hope this helps-
Joe Spiers

On May 19, 2013, at 5:08 PM, Lasse HÃi <hoeilasse@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> Ok, I use 442 or 443 myself. My concern is not offset or temperament
> though, it's simply how to get stable pitch and thus stable readings
> from the tuner to know that you actually hit whatever you aimed for.
> 
> I think my problem is partly an unstable embouchure with a small
> amount of involuntary bending going on (especially when playing
> without cover plates) AND also not knowing when the reeds have
> "settled" in their newly tuned state.
> 
> 2013/5/19  <bujohn49@xxxxxxx>:
>> 
>> Do not forget to "set" the tuner to a higher than 440 setting - in
>> example...442, that is what I use.....johnny
>> 
>> 
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Lasse HÃi <hoeilasse@xxxxxxxxx>
>> To: harp-l <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
>> Sent: Sun, May 19, 2013 6:19 am
>> Subject: [Harp-L] Embouchure for tuning
>> 
>> In my quest for better tuning I've done some experiments to find out
>> how to get more stable readings from my tuner software (Using both
>> TuneLab and Hohner Harmonica tuner)
>> 
>> Also, I'd like to separate the different contributing factors.
>> 
>> The most stable reading I have achieved have been on a slightly warmed
>> harp, looking only at draw notes (to eliminate condensation
>> influence).
>> 
>> I don't use a bench so I try to be very consistent in embouchure and
>> playing volume (I aim for mezzo forte, which of course is a subjective
>> term).
>> The reed plates are on.
>> 
>> However I still get variations of up to +/- 5 cents when playing the
>> same reed several time separated by a few minuted pause. If I look at
>> the tuner and focus on hitting the same pitch as before I can usually
>> adjust to it.  But this doesn't reading tell me much about whether I
>> actually tuned the reed as I intended.
>> 
>> It seems that the better tone, resonance and volume I get the higher
>> the pitch is, which make me think that the "tuned pitch" is the
>> highest achievable pitch, because here you have the least amount of
>> involuntary bending. I would imagine this would be the pitch you would
>> get in a bench.
>> 
>> (I am introducing the term "tuned pitch" to separate it from "playing
>> pitch" which will always be a little lower due to condensation)
>> 
>> So... should I always try to adjust my embouchure to get the highest
>> possible pitch? Would a bench achieve the same?
>> 
>> Any thoughts or similar experiment you would like to share?
>> 
>> Best regards, Lasse
>