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Dirty-South Blues Harp forum: wail on! > Tuning a Harmonica to Just
Tuning a Harmonica to Just
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Gnarly
2307 posts
Sep 20, 2017
11:05 AM
Hi--
I got a harmonica back from a customer, she thought the ProMaster was terrible, and wrote me a full page note sharing her disappointment, but not really telling me what was wrong.
I took a big leap of faith and tuned it to just--I bet she likes it better now.
I documented it on my Facebook page, so if you are on that app, give it a listen--the before and after.

If not, let me know and I might post it somewhere else--
It's the same old story, but well documented.

Last Edited by Gnarly on Sep 20, 2017 11:06 AM
slaphappy
323 posts
Sep 20, 2017
12:09 PM
even the 5 draw?

I love the sound of the blow/draw chords on the first 4 holes in just intonation but the 5 draw is just too darn flat for me. Isn't it like -27 cents?


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4' 4+ 3' 2~~~
-Mike Ziemba
Harmonica is Life!
Gnarly
2308 posts
Sep 21, 2017
8:15 AM
12th position is the only hang--if you use it a lot, five draw flat is a deal breaker. But if you are playing in 1st or 2nd and you want the chords to ring, you must go just.
If you are willing to avoid producing out of tune notes (caused when two notes sound together, when just intervals are not observed), you can compromise.
I find that if I tune the harmonica so that no odd ghost notes are produced, folks who were complaining about the harp sounding weak are satisfied.
What would Joe Spiers do?
Edit: Captcha was PYT dud
Further info--
I am using the iStrobosoft as recommended by harpwrench, using the Just Major Intonation setting under Temperaments Select. It's probably 19 limit. They also have a Minor Just.

Last Edited by Gnarly on Sep 21, 2017 8:21 AM
HarveyHarp
750 posts
Sep 21, 2017
8:31 AM
I prefer, and my default tuning is the MS tuning. All of my customers seem to really like it. The major thirds (2B, 5B and 8B) and the major sevenths (3D and 7D) are somewhat sharper: -10 cent instead of -14 and -9 cent instead of -12, respectively, and the 5 draw is actually 3 cents sharp.
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HarveyHarp
barbequebob
3447 posts
Sep 21, 2017
10:38 AM
In major tuned diatonics, there are two common versions of JT being used, 7 limit, which has 5 & 9 draw tuned 27 cents flat and 19 Limit, which has those same two tuned 1.5 cents sharp. 7LJI the classic one used for many years but if you need to do more positions than the first three, then 19LJI will be much more versatile and both still have sweet, smooth sounding chords.
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Sincerely,
Barbeque Bob Maglinte
Boston, MA
http://www.barbequebob.com
CD available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bbmaglinte
Gnarly
2309 posts
Sep 21, 2017
3:19 PM
I guess I will check the next time I do this to see which version of just the iStroboSoft app is guiding me thru.
It sounds great, IMO.
WinslowYerxa
1428 posts
Sep 22, 2017
8:53 AM
Even in first position, that super-flat Draw 5 can sound sour as a melody note - as a teenager I used to wonder why that note sounded so bad.

And the harmony of Draw 5 and Draw 6 - the 1 and 3 of the IV chord in first position - is 45 cents too big! Push Draw 6 two cents sharp for the perfect fifth between Draw 4 and 6, itself 2 cents sharp for the same reason with Draw 2, and Draw 5 27 cents flat, then add that a JI major third is 14 cents flat and, well . . .

So that slightly sharp 19LJI Draw 5 helps with that problem. (Putting aharp in country tuning eliminates the problem entirely!)
===========
Winslow

Check out my blog and other goodies at winslowyerxa.com
Harmonica For Dummies, Second Edition with tons of new stuff
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Last Edited by WinslowYerxa on Sep 22, 2017 8:54 AM
shakeylee
702 posts
Sep 23, 2017
1:17 PM
suzuki needs to make more just harps available
if suzuki would make JI fabulous reedplates available,it would be a wonderful world.

i have some from ron's ilove. wish they were available in all keys.

EDIT** just checked ron's,and he has some of the keys i need in stock!!
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www.shakeylee.com

Last Edited by shakeylee on Sep 23, 2017 1:37 PM
Gnarly
2311 posts
Sep 23, 2017
4:13 PM
I'm not finding it tough to tune to just, having the app Joe recommended makes it really easy.
I have several apps on the iPhone that I use, but iStroboSoft gets plenty of use.
I also like PanoTuner, I liked it so much I gave them money.
And APTuner has some really cool features.
I almost never use Cleartuner any more . . .
SuperBee
4995 posts
Sep 23, 2017
4:34 PM
I tried cleartune but I couldn't get it to play nice. Istrobosoft or the old korg do it for me. I default to the published sp20 tuning, 5 draw still kinda flat and sometimes i wonder. One of my customers occasionally sends me a harp 'going flat' and i cant find the problem. I wonder if its the intentionally flat 5, or maybe even the 3 draw, but i just touch them up and clean them and if i cant fault them i send them back. I tried asking for more specific info but the answers are too vague to draw any conclusion
barbequebob
3448 posts
Sep 25, 2017
9:47 AM
Super Bee -- That's why I would never want to be a customizer for the very same reasons you just pointed out, as to be very brutally honest about it, the average player often is completely clueless about their own playing as well as their playing needs and getting any kind of explanation from many of them is like pulling out somebody's teeth without the use of novocaine.
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Sincerely,
Barbeque Bob Maglinte
Boston, MA
http://www.barbequebob.com
CD available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bbmaglinte
Jim Rumbaugh
1273 posts
Sep 25, 2017
10:22 AM
bbqbob shared:
7 limit, which has 5 & 9 draw tuned 27 cents flat
19 Limit, which has those same two tuned 1.5 cents sharp

It make me wonder how critical is the tuning of those 2 reeds.

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theharmonicaclub.com (of Huntington, WV)

Last Edited by Jim Rumbaugh on Sep 25, 2017 10:22 AM
Gnarly
2312 posts
Sep 25, 2017
10:52 AM
"to be very brutally honest about it, the average player often is completely clueless about their own playing as well as their playing needs and getting any kind of explanation from many of them is like pulling out somebody's teeth without the use of novocaine."
Barbecuebob, mind if I quote you?
Oops, I just did.
Harmonica playing is part mystery, innit? Even to the player.

Edit:
So, how much inspiration, vs perspiration . . .

Last Edited by Gnarly on Sep 25, 2017 10:53 AM


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