Skip to main content

Retune Chromatics

3 replies [Last post]
Fri, 05/08/2015 - 16:47
Ivan-Arg-Rdz
Ivan-Arg-Rdz's picture
Offline
Joined: 10/17/2011

Hello Kinya!

Im trying to retune my chromatic, but I notice that if I tune all the reeds to 0 cents (or +/-2) I get the sound of tremolo if I play the octave, bust also if I tune for example the A reed to 0 cents and play octave and match the pitch of the octave higher, the reed is not tuned in the same cents as the bottom note.

 

Whats the best "temperament" for chromatic?

I like to play with octaves....

Thanks

Best Regards! .... From Mexico

Top
Tue, 05/12/2015 - 06:23
#1
Harp Tech Kinya...
Harp Tech Kinya Pollard's picture
Offline
Expert
Joined: 02/07/2010
Hola Ivan, como estas? What I

Hola Ivan, como estas?

What I found to be the best method of tuning octaves on a chromatic harmonica was actually insprired from observing the "Tuners" at the Hohner factory when I visited Trossingen, Germany.

The Master Tuner would tune a "reference" reed, from which all the new reed plates would be tuned to. The tuning table had two sets of valves--the center cluster for the new reed plate, and the one to the right for the reference reed plate.

Tip:

  1. Using any type of tone engine, for example, the iOS ClearTune app (iPhone and iPad plugged into amplified speakers), select the pitch and octave location (C1, C2, C3 etc.)
  2. Procede with tuning your reeds--precisely matching the selected pitch. If you hear the quiver (oscillation), sharpen or flatten the reed until the quiver stops. Your chromatic tuner will indicate whether your reed is #/b.

Your Harpsmith, Kinya

Top
Thu, 05/28/2015 - 17:07
#2
Ivan-Arg-Rdz
Ivan-Arg-Rdz's picture
Offline
Joined: 10/17/2011
Thanks Kinya, Ill

Thanks Kinya, Ill try!

 

Saludos amigo!

Top
Fri, 05/29/2015 - 12:57
#3
Harp Tech Kinya...
Harp Tech Kinya Pollard's picture
Offline
Expert
Joined: 02/07/2010
Patience is golden when

Patience is golden when perfecting your tuning skills. 

Your Harpsmith, Kinya

Top