Thievin' Heathen
464 posts
Jan 11, 2015
11:39 AM
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I am working on a L.O. Am and the tuning appears to be all over the place, though it is, at least, playing all the correct notes.
I have googled up a couple of options, 1 being a 5-limit J.I. and the other, from Harmonica Einstein's Tuning Table website, seems to be a little extreme.
I think with considerable more work and research, I might be able to extrapolate something from the wealth of information on Pat Missin's site, but I am hoping for a shortcut.
The last time, which was the 1st & only time, I tuned a natural minor, I just went straight E.T. by the needle on the tuner and I was not displeased with the results, but because this is someone else's harp, I want it to be perfect.
Any & all tuning suggestions are welcome.
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Meaux Jeaux
29 posts
Jan 11, 2015
11:57 AM
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Thievin'
I suggest Andrew Zajac's site, he has some good info.
Pete
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arzajac
1547 posts
Jan 11, 2015
12:23 PM
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Thievin: In any compromise tuning, the major thirds deviate the most from zero because they sound the harshest at zero. Minor thirds don't sound so bad at zero. That's why straight ET works fine for minor tuning.
If you want to do a slight compromise, you can keep everything at zero except the fifths which you raise by 2 cents. The Draw 6-10 notes are a fifth of the draw 4-8 notes, so tune them +4 so that they are +2 relative to their tonic.
Or, don't worry about it and go with straight ET. If you are happy with the sound, call it a success!
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Custom overblow harps. Harmonica service and repair.
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Thievin' Heathen
466 posts
Jan 11, 2015
12:43 PM
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Meaux - As you might know yourself, Andrew's site can be detrimental to domestic tranquility. As in, "dearest, you have another shipment from Canada?".
Thanks Andrew. Google did not ping your site in my search for "Natural Minor tuning", though it does get you for "Harmonica Combs". I now see your chart for natural minor offsets. That gives me something more to consider.
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GMaj7
591 posts
Jan 11, 2015
12:47 PM
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I'm marginal at best when it comes to temperament on minor tuned harps and worse when it comes to explaining it.
However, there are several papers out there that suggest tuning the Minor 3rd up 16 if the root is at 0.
I've done it as recently as yesterday and I kind of liked the chord that came out.
Sounds like Arzajac has a different opinion on it.
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Greg Jones
16:23 Custom Harmonicas
greg@1623customharmonicas.com
1623customharmonicas.com
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arzajac
1548 posts
Jan 11, 2015
2:09 PM
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Hi Greg.
We don't disagree. The thirds at +16 is 5-limit JI (I think) and sounds good. My point is that a major third tuned to zero sounds worse than a minor third tuned to zero. The major third at ET (at zero) sounds harsh while the minor third at ET sounds acceptable.
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Custom overblow harps. Harmonica service and repair.
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GMaj7
592 posts
Jan 11, 2015
3:42 PM
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Yeah.. I think you are correct..
My personal preference had been ET, like you.
I got a complaint on on it once so I started with the +16 thing...
I'm just glad to get a discussion on this.
Good thread
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Greg Jones
16:23 Custom Harmonicas
greg@1623customharmonicas.com
1623customharmonicas.com
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