[Harp-L] Bending on a Diatonic Harmonica Using a Pitch Pipe to Test Accuracy

[Grant Dermody]

Hi everyone,

I thought I’d chime in on this thread. 
Toots Thielemans used to play a four-night run in my home town, once or twice a year. We got to talking and he told me he played the chromatic because he thought melody notes should be pure. I’m sure there were additional reasons. So bent notes, to his ears, which were excellent, weren’t pure.

So how do we get our bent notes as close to purely in tune as possible? If you want to use a pitch pipe, or a tuner, or a piano, go for it. If it works for you, do it.

Another way, and one I use with my students, is to use bent notes as part of a familiar melody. For example, playing Saints Go Marching In, from the one blow in straight harp requires an in tune full bend on the two hole. If you know the melody, your ear will tell you if you have the pitch right. 

Saints Cross harp from the two draw requires a full step bend on the three hole. Again, your ear will tell you if you’ve got it.

Sentimental Journey requires precise differentiation between the first and second bends on the three. Choose melodies that you know, so your ear can tell you what you need to know.

Another way is to use the harmonica to help you match the pitches. For example, on a G harmonica, the full bend on the 2 hole is the note C. That note is found, among many other places, on the four hole blow on a C harmonica. So play that note with the C harp in one hand, and with the G in the other, go get that bent note. Repeat!

The first bend on the 3 hole on a G harp is F. A four blow on a low F will get you that note, or a one blow on a regular F. The second bend on hole 3 is E. That’s found on a two draw on the A harp. Go back and forth the same way. 

This is just another way to go get the pitch you want. It’s certainly not the only way. I like matching my bent note pitch to the harmonica, because that’s what I’m playing. That’s just my preference. I also use the piano. 

I hope this is helpful
All the best to all
Grant Dermody
gdermody at xxxxx

Sent from my iPhone

> On Oct 22, 2021, at 4:26 AM, Laurent Vigouroux <laurent.vigouroux at xxxxx> wrote:
> 
> I’m always a bit puzzled by this type of advice.
> Most people have to train their ears to ear well.
> A tool (be it an electronic tuner or another instrument for reference) will be beneficial to most people.
> 
> A few month ago, a semi-pro told me I was wrong when showing how to us a tuner for the harmonica (a model which detects the note you’re trying to achieve and plays it for reference). He told me it was useless and we would better use our ears directly;
> I listened to his playing … and he was playing quite out of tune.
> 
> 
> De : Harp-L <harp-l-bounces at xxxxx> de la part de Jim Peters <jfp2455 at xxxxx>
> Date : mercredi, 20 octobre 2021 à 13:11
> À : Rick Dempster <rickdempster33 at xxxxx>
> Cc : harp-l at xxxxx <harp-l at xxxxx>
> Objet : Re: [Harp-L] Bending on a Diatonic Harmonica Using a Pitch Pipe to Test Accuracy
> As a hearing impaired person, I cannot rely 100 % on my ears.  One size does not fit all. I say that if there is a technological tool available, and people want to use it, they should try it. I vote to be more inclusive rather exclusive.
> 
> Jim
> 
> Sent from my iPhone
> 
>> On Oct 19, 2021, at 7:35 AM, Rick Dempster <rickdempster33 at xxxxx> wrote:
>> 
>> I agree, Iceman. I also think harp tabs are worse than useless; merely
>> avoiding listening and training your ear.
>> RD
>> 
>>> On Mon, 18 Oct 2021 at 22:20, The Iceman via Harp-L <harp-l at xxxxx>
>>> wrote:
>>> 
>>> Best to learn the sound of correct bending pitch without using a tool that
>>> you have to look at for verification. Let your ear do all the work.
>>> 
>>> 
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: Dr. George Miklas <harmonicat at xxxxx>
>>> To: bluesharpteacher at xxxxx
>>> Cc: Harp-L <harp-l at xxxxx>
>>> Sent: Sat, Oct 16, 2021 7:39 pm
>>> Subject: Re: [Harp-L] Bending on a Diatonic Harmonica Using a Pitch Pipe
>>> to Test Accuracy
>>> 
>>> A tuner app on your smart phone is very intuitive and gives realtime
>>> feedback on the pitch. This is my recommendation for all of my students,
>>> even chromatic students, since a change in embouchure can result in
>>> lowering a pitch. It also aids new students by reminding them to “Just
>>> Breathe!”
>>> 
>>>> On Sat, Oct 16, 2021 at 6:12 AM <bluesharpteacher at xxxxx> wrote:
>>>> 
>>>> Bending on a Diatonic Harmonica Using
>>>> a Pitch Pipe to Test Accuracy
>>>> 
>>>> https://youtu.be/dwmUTNh0S-s
>>>> 
>>> --