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Date: 25 Apr 95 18:38:23 EDT
From: Douglas Tate <100576.32~ompuserve.com>
Subject: Classical harmonica & long lasting reeds

Michael

>Looks to me that you're dealing with a Helmholtz resonator (like a
>beer bottle). Then the size of the hole matters, as well as the size
>of the cavity. Opening your hands doesn't change the size of the
>cavity all that much but it affects the size of the hole quite a bit.

Yup, like I said last night, Read 'on the sensations' of tone, Helmholtz. I can't stress enough the precise way you have to go about it in the first instance. Then it's easy-peasy.

Harvey ..
What is a Harmonetta. Apart from being the finest repositry for old half masticated cheese sandwiches (according to Willi Danneker our much loved and now retired local tuner) it is a sort of face accordian. The fascinating thing about it is the ingenious keyboard arrangement. I have to admit to having learned my basic harmony by visualizing the layout. There are five rows of keys parallel to the mouthpiece and the keys are close fitting hexagons. Alternate rows have six and seven keys laid out as follows


D F# Bb D F# Bb
F A C# F A C# F
C E G# C ...
D# G B D# ......
Bb D F# ........

Note that the keyboard repeats left and right. Note the layout Major third to the right. Perfect Fifth to the South East. Minor Third South West. Major Sixth NE. So a triangle gives a minor chord, inverted triangle a major chord, Y shape a Dominant Seventh, horizontal row an Augmented triad, SW-NE row a diminished chord. Hour glass a ninth etc, brilliant. A triangle can be put down with one finger.

Each F key opens all of the F notes in the instrunment and you get a note by positioning your mouth at the approximate pitch you want. Blow and draw gives the same notes. So you can do a 'bellows shake on a chord. Sweep up a chord without changing breath (either single note or gob full). With a little skill you can play melody as a solo, or with accompaniment. Do the most beautiful Shearing type pieces (Autumn leaves with a chord change for each note) (Eat you Peg'o my Heart out akkorda players!)

Reeds are of stainless steel and the rivets are, of course, mild steel, so they rust like crazy. I liked it and still do. (Yes it is still as badly in tune as it always was) Throat vibrato works. I once took one apart, built a transistor amplifier into the case, stuck a 270 in the front and had a superb looking chromatic for playing in the Windmill theatre in London. Looked good, but sounded pretty awful, the only time I've worked miked.

Douglas T