Re: [Harp-L] Octaves on the Chromatic harp

[Arthur Jennings <timeistight@xxxxxxxxx>]

On a perfectly tuned harmonica (hah!) octaves wouldn't beat at all. The
beating is caused by minor imperfections in tuning. For example, if you play
two "A" notes where the low one is 110 hz and the high one is 222 hz, you'll
hear two beats per second.

I believe that really expert octave players (William Clarke, Rod Piazza,
George Smith, etc.)  are able to slightly bend one or both of the notes in
the octave and thereby control the beating to some extent. Not nearly there
myself.

On Wed, Dec 1, 2010 at 11:52 AM, michael rubin <
michaelrubinharmonica@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> Beating has to do with the tuning.  I do not know how to make it
> happen intentionally, but if you tune the notes just right, they will
> beat.  As for the octaves themselves, you have to eat that harp.  It
> took me a long time of practicing scales and jamming always in the
> octave position for it to become natural.
> Michael Rubin
> Michaelrubinharmonica.com
>
> On Wed, Dec 1, 2010 at 12:14 PM, Joe <abcdeasy@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> > Just looking for some tips on getting those big 5 hole octaves to ring
> > out or beat against each other ala William Clarke, Rod Piazza, George
> > Smith.  Every now and then I can get them to ring or beat but really
> > have to eat the harp and pretty much loose control of everything.  I
> > once asked Mikey Junior about this and his advice was to "eat" the
> > harp.  Mikey can get those octaves to beat nice and loud. I literally
> > have to bite the cover plates to get my mouth to stretch wide
> > (horizontally) enough.   Am I approaching this the wrong way?
> >
>
>


-- 
Arthur Jennings
http://www.timeistight.com