Why sharp notes
Hi Kinya.
I have troubles bending 1 hole on G and A harps in reference to HarpNinja.
HarpNinja shows siginificantly sharp unbent notes, and I cannot bend them deep enough to hit the accurate frequency.
I have checked HarpNinja on piano, and it's dead accurate.
So I get myself a tuner, set A=442, and it shows:
"G" harp: 1blow = +2cent, 1draw=+10cent, 2blow=-10cent, 2draw=0cent, 3blow=+7cent
"A" harp: 1blow = +20cent, 1draw=+20cent, 2blow=-2cent, 2draw=+17cent, 3blow=+24cent
Some other harps (all "Special 20"), just for interest:
"Bb": 1blow = +2cent, 1draw=0cent, 2blow=-6cent, 2draw=+11cent, 3blow=+10cent
"D": 1blow = 0cent, 1draw=0cent, 2blow=-6cent, 2draw=+4cent, 3blow=+6cent
"C": 1blow = 0cent, 1draw=0cent, 2blow=-2cent, 2draw=+4cent, 3blow=+9cent
Does it mean my A an G harps are bad? I thought harps get flatter, then they worn out, not sharper?
Recordings: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/o1rfnxe83fjz6sz/AAA5HKtGwiU5e9EQZSBr9nxAa?dl=0
Hey RB, good to hear from you. Thanx for the wave files. Sounds like you and your chromatic tuner had quite a workout!
It helps to know that, one will never reach tuning perfection with spring metal reeds. It is the inherent makeup of brass, zinc, phosphor bronze and stainless steel to continuously shift their molecules around. For harmonica players, this means perfecting our embouchure technique to raise/lower the pitch "on demand" will be an essential skill to master, if you want to be invited back to the next gig ;o)
For most people, we are able to hear the notes that fall near (and below) a semi-tone (half step). Unless we throttle a reed to death (usually from bending), harmonica reeds tend to creep sharp (#) rather than flatten (b). This phenomenon is obvious on chromatic harmonicas--which is not a good reed bending instrument.
My recommended recipe for Compromised Just Tuning:
Your Harpsmith, Kinya