Equal tempered and just intonation tunings
Hi Kinya, was wondering if it was possible to take an equal tempered tuned harp (golden melody) and flaten the pitches a little on ,I think the 5 draw and 9 draw, and give the golden melody the same chordal sound or pitch as the other marine bands. I have spc 20`s and 1869`s and they sound a little different to me when playing chords. Maybe its just me. Just wanted some input because I really like the GM harp.
To make sure I understand, Key of A blow reeds, A C# E A C# E A C# E A, 1=A, 2=C# flattened 10 cents 3=E sharp 10 cents, 4= A, %=C# flattened 10 cents ect..... And Thank you for responding, I appreciate your time.
Hello Dave,
Check it out:
BLOW REEDS:
| A= (0) | C#= <-10c> | E= (+1c) | A= (0) | C#= <-10c> | E= (+1c) | A= (0) | C#= <-10c> | E= (+1c) | A= (0) |
DRAW REEDS:
| B= (+2c) | E= (+1c) | G#= <-10c> | B= (+2c) | D= <-5c > | F#= (+3c) | G#= <-10c> | B= (+2c) | D= <-5c > | F#= (+3c) |
Let me know how it goes,
Kinya
Thanks for the recipe. The GM`s sound good, Again thanx for your help.
Hi Kinya,
I found these tuning 'recipes' on http://www.harplog.com/faq4_tuning.shtml and I noticed that the tuning layout that you recommended above is listed on that site as being for Hohner's MS models. Here are the tuning charts below:
Original Marine Band Tuning (Just Intonation)
Hole # 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Blow 0 -14 +2 0 -14 +2 0 -14 +2 0
Draw +4 +2 -12 +4 -27 +6 -12 +4 -27 +6
Current Marine Band Tuning
Hole # 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Blow 0 -12 +1 0 -12 +1 0 -12 +1 0
Draw +2 +1 -11 +2 -12 +3 -11 +2 -12 +3
Tuning for MS Models
Hole # 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Blow 0 -10 +1 0 -10 +1 0 -10 +1 0
Draw +2 +1 -9 +2 +3 +3 -9 +2 +3 +3
I have a variety of harps here that might be in need of some TLC and retuning and I was wondering which tuning would be better? I suppose, to answer my own question, that I should go with the one that sounds the best but I am wondering what are the current 'factory settings' for Marine Bands and Special 20's? Do they use exactly the same compromised tuning? I also have a tuning chart from Richard Sleigh which deviates from the above listing. Is tuning in octaves perhaps just the best way to go given that there might be slight variation depending on when the harp was constructed?
Thanks,
Gerard
Hello Gerard,
The "compromised just tuning" appears to be the current favorite of most harmonica players, nice chords with distinctive single notes.
Follow the recipe for your current Marine Band, then experiment with raising the 2+ , 5+ , and 5 up to 5cents
Get back to me and let me know what appealed to your liking.
~Kinya
GReat !!!
thanks
Hey Dave,
No - your ears are not deceiving you. In fact, that is a terrific attribute you have to be able to notice the distinction between the two tunings.
At the moment, my memory is telling me that the Hering 1923 Vintage harmonica is the only production harmonica that is tuned in "just intonation". Hohner Marine Band and Special 20 are tuned more to a "compromised just". Here is the receipe that I think you will like (set your chromatic tuner @ 442hz):
BLOW REEDS (first no. = reed, and second no.= (+) <-> cents)
| 1= (0) | 2= <-10> | 3= (+1) | 4= (0) | 5= <-10> | 6= (+1) | 7= (0) | 8= <-10> | 9= (+1) | 10= (0) |
DRAW REEDS
| 1= (+2) | 2= (+1) | 3= <-10> | 4= (+2) | 5= <-5> | 6= (+3) | 7= <-10> | 8= (+2) | 9= <-5> | 10= (+3) |
"Play the notes people want to hear" (c) 2008
Kinya Pollard
The Harpsmith