tookatooka
242 posts
Jun 20, 2009
8:04 AM
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Just wondering if anyone knows the reason why you can only get a half step bend on the 5 draw?
There's obviously a good scientific reason why and I'd love to know. Seems odd that draw 4 and 6 can bend well but not 5. Anyone?
When I'm not blowing, I'm drawing.
Last Edited by on Jun 20, 2009 8:06 AM
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GamblersHand
39 posts
Jun 20, 2009
9:29 AM
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It's because bends are dependant on the pitch of the opposite reed. Apparently when you bend a note, then apparently both reeds sound, giving you the tones in between each reed. You're limited by the pitch of the lower reed.
As the 5 blow (E on a C harp) is only half a tone different to 5 draw (F on C), you can only get a sortof slightly flattened 5 draw - which actually doesn't fit nicely into the Western music scale.
This is also the reason why you can get three "proper" bent notes on the 3 draw, because the 3 draw and 3 blow are so far apart in pitch.
One other thing, just semantics really, but when most people talk in steps they mean full tones rather than semitones; so the 5d bend is usually called a "quarter step bend"
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ElkRiverHarmonicas
19 posts
Jun 20, 2009
5:54 PM
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What gambler said... adding that the when you bend the draw reed, the blow reed actually gets sucked in and becomes a draw reed. The interaction of those two draw reeds lowers the pitch and you can't get anymore than a half step higher than the lowest reed of the two.
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KeithE
12 posts
Jun 20, 2009
9:01 PM
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This paper goes into a lot of detail:
"Acoustical and physical dynamics of the diatonic harmonica"
http://www.turboharp.com/Company/JASA.pdf
If that link doesn't work just search for the paper's title and it will show up.
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tookatooka
244 posts
Jun 21, 2009
8:27 AM
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Thanks Guys.
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When I'm not blowing, I'm drawing.
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