Gapping, setting tuner at 442 Hz

Hi James,

Q1. On an A Harp (or any key harp), does the gap GENERALLY decrease in size as you go from the one hole to the ten hole?

A2. Absolutely. Depending on the harmonica key, the gaps on the #1 reeds could be as much as .007" and the #10 could be as low as .004"

Q2. Technically, why do you have to set the tuner to 442 Hz instead of leaving it at the default of 440 Hz? 

A2. This is really to make things easier on the harp tech. Setting your chromatic tuner to 442Hz --vibrations per second, will "compensate" (like a handicap in Golf) for the peculiar things that happen with the harmonica. For example, (a) cover plates can flatten the pitch of the harmonica and (b) the harmonica player's enthusiasm--also know as excessive air volume, will flatten the pitch as well (especially in Rock and Blues ;o) Simply put; we sharpen the harmonica a tad, so that when you play it, you'll be in tune with the rest of the band. Note: some Seydel harmonicas are set to A4 = 444 Hz

TIP: A chromatic tuner set to A4 = 440Hz will have it's needle point straight up to 0 zero (#/b). A chromatic tuner set to A4 = 442Hz will have the needle point to approximately <-8> cents (b as in flat).

I remember during my tour at the Harmonica Museum in Trossingen, Germany, someone in our group asked the curator why the 440Hz was stamped onto the older Marine Band cover plates. The response was Hohner wanted to ensure musicians that their harmonicas will be in tune with other instruments. In 1939, Concert A4-440 Hz (above middle C) was established as the reference note everyone in the orchestra (band) would tune to. Founder Matthias Hohner did not intend for his harmonica to be played the way we play it today--it was originally designed for German folk "oompa-oompa" type music.

Your Harpsmith, Kinya