How I tune my chromatic harmonicas

[@joephillips4082]

Very informative, Filip. We've seen reeds tuned before, but without your insight, knowledge and experience. Your comments were very helpful. Thanks for posting this.

[@FilipJersMusic]

Thanks for watching! 🎶🎶🎶

[@JamesReily]

Thanks for the demo.

[@hancovali]

Thank you Filip. Very useful video. I will try it first on my cheapest😅

[@FilipJersMusic]

Yes, just start, that is the most important!

[@catoninetails789]

I just bought this dremel tool, Dremel Stylo 2050, the same model as yours. Mine didn't come with the rubber polishing wheel that you demonstrate in the video. Where did you get it?

[@FilipJersMusic]

No this Rubber wheel is from another company, that sells special and fine detail tools. It is called Rubber polishing wheel. The company is based in Sweden, called Normek.

[@chrismengos8379]

Thank you, very informative. Where did you buy this rotary tool?

[@FilipJersMusic]

In a hardware store for handcraft hobby materials. It should be available online too I think.

[@norfolknwhey4787]

@@FilipJersMusicwhat is the polishing insert called or made out of? That looks much nicer than a rotary grinder.

[@norfolknwhey4787]

@@FilipJersMusicalso, is that a 1mil shim?

[@FilipJersMusic]

It feels like it is made out of rubber ​@@norfolknwhey4787

[@FilipJersMusic]

​@@norfolknwhey4787thinner than 1 mm, i think 0.1 or 0.2. I think on is 0.05

[@madspeterandersen7950]

Hi. Thanks for the video. Where can I buy a rubber polishing wheel like the one you are using?

[@FilipJersMusic]

I bought them from a well sorted hardware store.

[@johnostwald4035]

Thank you for a great video! I've run into a weird thing: One of my harmonicas (EAST TOP forerunner 12 Hole in G), has long had a slightly flat 9-draw. I tuned it using the techniques in your video and got it to a point I like. However, when I gave it a test drive, I realized the 9-blow.had gone sharp by nearly a semitone. I started to fix that, only to see the draw was starting to go out of tune again. any ideas what's happening? was it just condensation throwing me off or is there some other interaction I need to watch for? thank you!

[@FilipJersMusic]

It can be condensation or maybe some metal dust is stuck between the reed and the slot. Then the pitch can go wild. The forerunner does not have valves so you need to be superprecise with the airstream when tuning.

[@johnostwald4035]

@@FilipJersMusic thank you!

[@doug1844]

Why do you like the high octave reeds tuned a little sharp?

[@FilipJersMusic]

It sounds better when playing with other instruments. All other single note instruments intonate higher in pitch when playing a high note. So to my ears, the harmonica needs to be tuned a bit higher in the last octave. To my ears it sounds too flat if I tune it to green on the tuner.

[@33bubbas]

Great infor Filip....I am wondering how often you tune your reeds?

[@FilipJersMusic]

Once a year maybe. But I have lot of harmonicas....

[@danangdwi01]

Sir, what is the difference between chromatic with valve and without valve? Which one is better?

[@FilipJersMusic]

Use a chromatic with valves, a lot easier and more airtight!

[@gastonpiget1034]

Very esoteric!

[@marcelkamst9723]

Do you tune down your out of the box Suzukis? They come in 444 hertz and I know you (and I) like to play in 442 or even 442 but I am intimidated by retuning 48 reeds.

[@FilipJersMusic]

Yes I tune them down. It takes a lot of time and effort in the beginning, but it is a great skill to have.

[@marcelkamst9723]

Okay thanks. I will do it too. So nice to be in tune :-)

[@teliph3U]

One question I always asked myself is the following: If my brain somehow adapted to blowing holes a certain way, because they were out of tune, how can I make sure that I tune it right? Is there some way to go into neutral position? Would blowing/drawing as high as possible work and end up in a comfortable tuning?

[@FilipJersMusic]

Find a medium pressure. Don't blow too hard, dont blow too soft.

[@FilipJersMusic]

And it takes time to develop and fine your own perfect pressure. You have tune a harmonica and then play it to a backing track or jam or concert to see if you "tuning" air pressure is correct. It can take a while to find or you will find it directly. Often a medium pressure is where a note sounds good and alive and you don't feel that you are using too much or too little air, it should just feel good to play.

[@stevenpatterson794]

What about tempermwnt?

[@FilipJersMusic]

I tune all my harmonicas to Equal temperment.

[@nadlerus88]

Thx for sharing Filip. I mostly gave up tuning, except critical octaves, as it fluctuates with temperature, vibrato/tremolo, volume. The quality instruments I play come mostly in tune and with care, rotation, infrequent bending, hard hits, generally stay there. Regards, Neil

[@Fabios-br]

A Dremel is way too dangerous to me. Even with less aggressive bits and low speed is way too much for the reed. You have to be very careful with that. Try with a Nail drill used for manicure, that cheapest models, it fits perfectly.

[@FilipJersMusic]

I use nail drills while on the road. The tool in this video is really good, you an put it at a low setting and use I only use Rubber wheels. No reed damaged yet. 🎵🎵🎵

[@Fabios-br]

@@FilipJersMusic Oh, thanks for answer Filip, I'm a great fan of yours. As a Brazilian, I love Hering and the Spiro album art cover! I'll try to find this rubber wheel and test. I did not pay attention to this detail, as it's a very uncommon tip for Dremmel. But I totally believe in you and have great respect for your work. To me, you're one of the greatest player/teacher of the new generation. Hope to take some lessons in a near future.

[@inderneilboseroychowdhury]

👍 👏 🎶 👌 Informationen.

[@nicolafurio3797]

👏👏🎶