A new method for retuning harmonicas (Diatonic + Chromatic)

Hi
Re-Tuning an harmonica
I present a detailed text with photo and sound so that to be completely understood by everybody: Presupposition is that you trust (for sure you will) SEYDEL-HOHNE to be a Reference for re-tuning all your harmonicas (Diatonic + Chromatic ones).

Photo: Pitch of Seydel Harmonicas. Download it here:

Pitch of seydel harmonicas.jpg - File Shared from Box.net - Free Online File Storage

1. I have two cheap (15 $) clipped Guitar Tuners {the FT-800 and the TOYO one} touching activated and one expensive SEIKO activated by incorporated microphone (bought years ago before the circulation of clipped ones).
2. For harmonica tuning I found out that the mic activated guitar tuner is not so accurate (small but different indications every time of testing pitches)
3. The clipped ones (must touch the body of harmonica to be activated) are more accurate.
4. The guitar tuners have a scale measured in cents, from -50 to + 50 cents, 100 cents per semitone, 50 cents per 1/2 of a semitone.
5. Fe if we check C and the needle of the tuner’s scale indicates +25 that means C is sharpened ¼ of semitone, if the needle was at -50 then C is flatted ½ of semitone, if the needle indicates 0 but on the B pitch that means that C is flatted a semitone, if the needle indicates 0 but on D pitch that means that C is sharpened 1 tone (2 semitones)
6. Practice on a cheap harmonica before you try to tune a more valuable model

7. Re-tuning a sharpened reed is implemented by removing metal from the base (near the rivet or screw) of the reed using either a jewelers needle file for removing larger amounts of metal or Micro Sanding Wands or a razor blade for smaller ones.
8. Longer reeds require the removal of more metal to give you the same amount of change (say, a ¼ of semitone) than shorter ones.
9. Re-tuning a flatted reed is implemented by removing metal from the tip of the reed.
10. File small amounts at a time and check the tuning frequently.

11. On chromatic harmonicas the inside reeds are the blow and the outside the draw ones. It may not be necessary to remove the reedplate if it's an outside reed. On chromatic harps you must remove the reedplate from the harp’s comb if it is necessary to tune inside reeds in order not to damage the windsavers.
12. On un-valved chromatics (Seydel Standard ,Chrommeta…) it is not necessary to remove the reedplate to tune inside reeds .You just put a toothpick through the hole to raise the reed and proceed filing
13. Before beginning scrapping the metal, support the reed by slipping a razor blade under it.
14. You can actually file on about 1/3 of the length of the reed to raise or lower pitch. It does NOT have to be right at the tip or right at the base of the reed. Spreading out the filing across that 1/3 area means much less metal taken from one exact spot on the reed .I've retuned reeds as much as 5 semitones without a problem . But You need to know (and set) the reference pitch of the tuner to the factory setting FIRST. Then you need to be aware that not all notes are tuned to Equal Temperament { Robertpcoble’s experience}.
15. I am now presenting a way for Reference Pitch, I recently applied on all my re-tuning tests, which I believe is completely accurate. I use the Seydel’s software as Reference Pitch or else (this is the method published on many internet posts) it is needed to know (and set) the Reference Pitch of the tuner to the factory setting first. Then it is needed that not all notes are tuned to Equal Temperament .If not then an indication for example -30 cents on the tuner might mean not flattening pitch but a non accurate tuner.

a) Use any clipped Guitar tuner
b) Download and execute the Seydel’s software of the above photo here:

pianolayout.exe - File Shared from Box.net - Free Online File Storage

Don’t be afraid for viruses from this executable file: It is of the Seydel Company. You just need installation on your computer the ‘’Macromedia Flash Player 7’’ to execute it. Press the computer’s mouse on the desired key, let’s say C# pitch, touching your Guitar Tuner on the Speaker’s body and write down the position of the tuner’s needle. Let’s say it is at C# -12 cents, flatted offset about 1/8 of semitone. (If the tuner was accurate the needle would have indicated C# 0 cents).
c) So our Reference for our harmonica C# pitch will be the -12 indication of our Guitar tuner and not the 0 one.
d) Now touch the Guitar Tuner on the body of your chromatic harmonica-of any model or make- press the slide for C# and blow. Then the needle must indicate C# -12 cents, because this is our reference for C#
e) If the indication is on the left of -12 cents then remove metal from the tip of the reed , if it is on the right of -12 (f.e 0) then remove metal from the base.
f) Set the gap between the reed and the plate in a way so that to be larger on the low notes and gradually smaller on the high notes.
g) blow away any debris that has been created by the filing

h) Repeat the steps c) to h) for the rest defective reeds


Examples for better understanding
The needle of my tuner set on the speaker indicates +18 cents for pitch B of SEYDEL software.
That means +18 is the Reference (the ‘’zero’’).
The indication of the tuner on the body of harmonica may be one of the following:
What do they mean?
1. The tuner on harmonica indicates B pitch +10 for the B pitch
2. The tuner on harmonica indicates B pitch +25 for the B pitch
3. The tuner on harmonica indicates B pitch -20 for the B pitch
4. The tuner on harmonica indicates C pitch -10 for the B pitch
5. The tuner on harmonica indicates C pitch +20 for the B pitch
6. The tuner on harmonica indicates Bb pitch +5 for the B pitch
7. The tuner on harmonica indicates Bb pitch -5 for the B pitch

ANSWERS:

1. The +10 is on the left of +18.Consequently the harps B pitch is flatted .It must be corrected 8 cents scrapping metal from the tip of the reed.
2. The +25 is on the right of +18.Consequently the harps B pitch is sharpened .It must be corrected 7 cents scrapping metal from the base of the reed.
3. The -20 is on the left of +18.Consequently the harps B pitch is flatted .It must be corrected 38 cents scrapping metal from the tip of the reed.
4. The -10 is on the left of +18.But now the pitch became C .Consequently the harps B pitch is sharpened .It must be corrected 72 cents scrapping metal from the base of the reed.{ from -10 to -50 are 40 cents and from +50 to + 18 are 32. Total 72 cents}
5. The +20 is on the right of +18. But now the pitch became C .Consequently the harps B pitch is sharpened .It must be corrected 102 cents scrapping metal from the base of the reed .{from +20 to -50 are 70 cents and from +50 to +18 are 32. Total 102 cents}.
6. The +5 is on the left of +18. But now the pitch became Bb .Consequently the harps B pitch is flatted .It must be corrected 113 cents scrapping metal from the tip of the reed .{ from +5 to +50 are 45 cents and from -50 to +18 are 68 cents. Total 113 cents}
7. The -5 is on the left of +18. But now the pitch became Bb .Consequently the harps B pitch is flatted .It must be corrected 123 cents scrapping metal from the tip of the reed .{from -5 to +50 are 55 cents and from -50 to +18 are 68 cents. Total 123 cents}

P.S:
I have explained it in details because as an Electronic Engineer I had many occasions where very very expensive Telecommunication Instruments after some time presented a deviation and the Reference ''zero''could'nt be achived. Then we accepted as a Reference another value positive or negative and after the end of measurements we corrected them accordingly.

Greetings from Syros Island GREECE
Stefanos

PS: Stefanos - can you please point the members to the download of software from the original site and not third party file hosting server.

If the links point to pirated version, please delete the links at once.

PS: Members, please be careful while downloading executable files from unknown sources, you can end up compromising your system to strangers or let virus / spyware be installed on your system.

Originally Posted by Super-Admin

PS: Stefanos - can you please point the members to the download of software from the original site and not third party file hosting server.

If the links point to pirated version, please delete the links at once.

PS: Members, please be careful while downloading executable files from unknown sources, you can end up compromising your system to strangers or let virus / spyware be installed on your system.

Hi Indian friends
I knew there would be a hesitation because even my site where I keep all my files { Box.net | Online file sharing, content management, collaboration } gives this warning.
I uploaded it here because you can upload it from
Harp Konfigurator - SEYDEL MUNDHARMONIKAS
if you know German.I have uploaded it a week ago and I don't remember the exact board. I'll look for and update my answer soon.

I have also just now uploaded on YouTube a short video of mine demonstrating all the advantages of the method and the Seydel's software for those hesitating uploading it.Here:Tuning Harmonicas {New Method} -


Friendly

Stefanos

Hi again
I looked but I could'nt find it.Maybe it was a link. The only I kept was the photo which I couldn't copy so I copied by the Print Screen key of the keyboard as you can see it here:
seydel piano India.jpg - File Shared from Box.net - Free Online File Storage
If somebody else can have more info from this photo let's give the answer.

Hi Indian friends
Here isthe original site:

Tonhöhenumfang von Mundharmonikas - C.A. SEYDEL SÖHNE

Greetings from Greece

Stefanos