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Dirty-South Blues Harp forum: wail on! >
Tuning, Temperament, Pitch, and Frequency
Tuning, Temperament, Pitch, and Frequency
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GMaj7
379 posts
Mar 15, 2014
1:57 PM
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This is an article I wrote for my web site on the topics of Tuning, Temperament, Pitch, and Frequency.
The terms TUNING, TEMPERAMENT, PITCH, and FREQUENCY BASIS are used quite commonly on forums and in marketing data put out by harmonica companies. The standard diatonic harmonica has a series of notes that are commonly referred to as RICHTER TUNING. Although the name is not technically correct, common usage has taken over and it has become synonymous with the tuning layout that comes on almost all stock production harmonicas.
When we refer to ALTERNATE TUNING, we are referring to deviations in this layout where specific reeds are tuned to a completely different PITCH or note. Examples of different tunings are Paddy Richter, Country Tuning, and Melody Maker Tuning. In each of these cases, specific notes are changed to a completely different pitch. PITCH refers to the specific note that a reed is tuned to (ie A, Bb, C, etc).
Temperament refers to the way a harmonica is tuned to itself. In other words, temperament refers to how each note is tuned relative to other notes on the harmonica. The tuning of harmonicas and other instruments is part science and part art. In many cases, mathematical perfection is not necessarily desired. Notes that are played simultaneously do not always sound as pleasant when each note is tuned perfectly. Hence, harmonica companies frequently tune some notes sharp and some notes flat so that chords have a more desirable sound. Most players do not notice these deviations but as players progress and play more complex styles of music, the playing of chords becomes less important giving way to perfect pitch. When harmonicas are tuned to the exact mathematically calculated pitch on every reed, we call that Equal Temperament. Lee Oskar harmonicas and Golden Melodies are tuned to ET from the factory. Almost all other harmonicas are tuned to what is called COMPROMISE TUNING. There is no exact formula for CT but rather slight differences based on several factors. It is generally assumed that most players perform in 2nd position and hence, CT places the deviations in pitch (Usually just a few cent) in places that will allow the draw and blow 1-4 hole chords to sound good while at the same time keeping the notes consistent across the harp so the tongue blocked octaves are in unison.
FREQUENCY BASIS refers to the baseline frequency a harmonica is tuned to. This is most commonly set at A=442. Although many instruments are actually tuned to A=440, harmonica companies tune slightly sharp to allow for certain factors that cause a harmonica to go slightly flat. Recording industry personnel frequently expect session players to play instruments tuned to 441 or 440 as sometimes free reed instruments can sound shrill. This is generally not noticed in a live setting unless the player is performing strictly acoustic and with a lot of string instruments.
This discussion is not scientific and volumes have been written about each topic. It does provide a basis of understanding so that a player can communicate effectively with harmonica technicians and other players.
For more discussion on this and related topics, see my web site at:
1623customharmonicas.com
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Greg Jones
16:23 Custom Harmonicas
greg@1623customharmonicas.com
1623customharmonicas.com
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walterharp
1345 posts
Mar 15, 2014
7:58 PM
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"Recording industry personnel frequently expect session players to play instruments tuned to 441 or 440 as sometimes free reed instruments can sound shrill."
This is an interesting statement as many of the mods to harmonica amps, as well as microphone choices are often made to make harmonicas sound less shrill....
and, to my ear, embossing used in harmonicas makes tone sound shrill..
But being slightly sharp is different than being biased toward treble..the former is more difficult for a sound tech to dial out the later is mostly a matter of setting eq to desired levels, but both cut in a live situation.
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GMaj7
381 posts
Mar 15, 2014
8:59 PM
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Walterharp
I agree with you that embossed harps sound more shrill. I'm not sure if it is the embossing that causes this or maybe other techniques that are used in conjunction with embossing.
Interestingly enough, accordion player Jeff Taylor (Sideman to Buddy Greene) discussed this very topic as he expressed frustration with an accordion tech who insisted on 442 tuning. He said the tech justified 442 so the accordion would "stand out". Jeff said he told him if his accordion were tuned to 442, he would "stand out" in the unemployment line.
Evidently our free reeded sisters and brothers have the same concerns.
Noted that this is less of a problem in Europe where concert pitch is set at 442 as opposed to 440.
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Greg Jones
16:23 Custom Harmonicas
greg@1623customharmonicas.com
1623customharmonicas.com
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