Practice Tip: Intonation

Check the intonation (how well you play in tune) of your bends often. Sometimes use a pitch recognition device (HarpNinja app, or a tuner for example) and sometimes use a pitch generating device (piano or app). Playing your notes in tune is essential for good music. Side note—the bottom bends (1’, 2”, 3’’’, 4’, 6’, 8’+, 9’+, and 10”+) are often bluesy notes, and we prefer to bend as far as we can, playing them out of tune—this sounds more bluesy. The exception is when playing in unison with another instrument (say playing the head of the song)—those bends need to be played in tune.