How to Gap your Harmonica Reeds for Optimum Bendability

Рет қаралды 10,403

Күн бұрын

0:00 INTRO
02:35 Demystifying Bendable Note Identification
10:59 Required Tools for Gapping
11:34 Definition of Gapping
13:22 Supersized View of Reed
15:38 Light Box
16:09 BLOW Reeds Zero Points
18:30 METHOD 1 for setting BLOW Reeds Zero Point Gapping
21:58 METHOD 2 for setting BLOW Reeds Zero Point Gapping
24:46 Preferred settings for BLOW Reeds Zero Point Gapping
28:37 REED CALIBRATION/Gapping Charts
30:59 METHOD 1 "The Lumberjack" for setting the Reed's FREE END Gaps
40:51 METHOD 2 "The Brake" for setting the Reed's FREE END Gaps
49:19 Corrective strategies
51:26 METHOD 3 "The Swaddle" for setting the Reed's FREE END Gaps
54:35 SUMMARY
55:03 OUTRO

Пікірлер: 46

@ikust007 Ай бұрын

Such an exceptional teacher you are .

@orangecaprinun Ай бұрын

Omg that's like getting a glimpse of the endgame boss in the intro of a video game or a movie or something lol. i just got my first couple of harmonicas a week ago and sure enough i felt like one was choking a little on that 2 draw, needless to say it's scrap parts now for future projects, sadly it was my favorite of the two, the lee oskar harmonic minor.. But I'm finding this video of GREAT benefit knowing where i went wrong and learning the proper etiquette of how to handle the delicate mechanism inside, which i honestly pretty much mutilated. Can't wait to watch all your other videos, I know i'm just a hobbyist and nowhere near a real harp tech but i'm really loving this discipline. Thank you so much for sharing all of this knowledge!

@HARPSMITH900 Ай бұрын

Thanx Vulcan. I've been tinkering and building stuff since the early 1960's, but harmonicas are by far away the most satisfying. To work on a precision instrument--then be able to make music with it is nothing short of AMAZING! Keep watching this space ... so much to show and so little time ...

@themastershandsdean 3 ай бұрын

I so enjoyed my first video from you. I can't wait to watch more and learn more. Thank you so much.

@HARPSMITH900 3 ай бұрын

I’m pleased you found this episode useful. Search “HARPSMITH” on this KZfaq channel for binge worthy videos. Thank you!

@rickomundson 3 ай бұрын

Very informative thanks!

@HARPSMITH900 3 ай бұрын

Thanx for watching Rick. I'm glad you found this episode useful.

@PepperoniePlays 3 ай бұрын

Love your videos, always so informative and well explained. It's good to see and learn how to fiddle around this tiny weird instrument. Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us. I am always looking forward to watching your videos!

@HARPSMITH900 3 ай бұрын

Absolutely thrilling for me to discover then share my findings with fellow harmonica enthusiasts! Thank you

@pitifigola-luthierdearmonicas Сағат бұрын

Hi, friend! She wanted to ask him where she could buy a tuning table. Ms. possible?

@leftymagoo2710 2 ай бұрын

Man . UR Grrrrrrreat! I enjoy your relaxed style of exploration and explanation. I am re-exploring the harp after seeing Howard Levy’s You Tube thing about playing chromatically on a diatonic harp. I like Howard’s musical style and abilities. However, you combine musical abilities and the technical know how for the “ everyday” player . Thanks🙏

@HARPSMITH900 2 ай бұрын

Hey Lefty, thank you for your kind words. As I mentioned in an earlier respond, I am in the workshop significantly more hours than in the studio and/or bandstand. I am therefore, consider myself the quintessential "everyday" player--personally testing and calibrating all HARPSMITH harmonicas before they leave my shop. p.s. I have been investing many hours on perfecting Brendan Power's "overbending" platform. You maybe interested in sampling my prototype. It is specifically designed for the second position bluz harmonica player interested in adding seven more musical notes to their repertoire. If so, contact me at kinya@harpsmith.com

@AdamWestUS 2 ай бұрын

Thank you for this excellently thorough video. As a player and teacher who has just started to learn the craft I appreciate your very clear explanations!! 2023 was my first SPAH and i leard a bit from sitting with Richard. Hopefully I get to thank you in person in Tulsa!

@HARPSMITH900 2 ай бұрын

Hi Adam, did you catch my reference to the '65 Dozier "Batman Theme"😉 Thanx for watching. Stay tuned for new episodes!

@AdamWestUS 2 ай бұрын

@@HARPSMITH900 I did😄

@PatK-SoCal-USA 3 ай бұрын

Harpsmith, thx 4 such a GR8 show of a skillset. I only had one Chromatic, but 13 diff Honers from Bb to F# that I kept in my leather bag. I saw in concert at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium: Paul Butterfield, Charlie Musclewhite, War, and a few other extraordinary harmonica players. Question: How do you fully clean saliva from the reeds??? K85 Flyboy

@HARPSMITH900 3 ай бұрын

WOW, that Santa Monica Concert must of been AWESOME! To safely and "thoroughly" clean harmonica reeds: (1) disassemble your instrument (2) remove and place the reed plates into an Ultrasonic Tank with one capful of EuroSonic Cleanser (3) run two 10 minute cycles (4) remove moisture, then reassemble BONUS: for harmonicas with composite combs, including ABS, Acrylic, Corian, Resin, etc. you can place the entire assembled harmonica in the Ultrasonic Tank.

@choimdachoim9491 2 ай бұрын

I recommend 1.75 playback speed. I destroyed my first harmonica at the age of 8 using these methods...didn't have feeler gauges and by overcompensating ended up with serpentine reeds.

@HARPSMITH900 2 ай бұрын

Thanx for the recommendation. I like "serpentine" ... might be the genesis to a new song idea😎

@georgidimitrov6054 28 күн бұрын

Awesome! Now I know Harmonica Kung-Fu!

@HARPSMITH900 28 күн бұрын

Excellent Georgi! Now it's your turn to set up you next favorite harmonica.

@davidkulmaczewski4911 3 ай бұрын

Nice video, lots of great info. A few questions as I watch it... Is the zero point gap ever too low initially? Or, what if you over adjust and make it too low? Can you adjust the gap upward? What is the benefit of changing the zero point gap? What improves when you lower it, and what goes wrong if it's too low? Should you 'plink' the reed while adjusting the zero point gap? What is the pattern for end gap versus key, i.e., does it increase for lower keys and decrease for higher keys? If *7/6/6* is a starting point for a C harp, then what would the numbers be for a G harp? An F harp? Thanks!

@davidkulmaczewski4911 3 ай бұрын

Another question... I just bought a set of feeler gauges and measured a few harmonicas (Hohner Crossovers). It appears that all of them already have zero point gaps *below* 0.001 inches, i.e., a 0.001" leaf won't go to the rivet pad even with rocking (they jam up about 1/16" away from the pad). The Crossover is a higher-priced Hohner model... have these already been tweaked to insure a small ZPG? Thanks!

@HARPSMITH900 3 ай бұрын

Hi David, Q1: Is the zero point gap ever too low initially? A1: Yes. In fact, for my Overbend customers, I will make it a -.001" Zero Point Q2: what if you over adjust and make it too low? Can you adjust the gap upward? A2: watch 30:59 "The Lumberjack". This technique works well for correcting the Zero Point gaps Q3: What is the benefit of changing the zero point gap? A3: The Harp Tech always endeavor to adjust the gapping to match the unique breath pressure of the player. This will be immediately obvious to improved bendability, volume and tone. Q4: what goes wrong if it's too low? A4: the harmonica will be "stiff and stuffy" to play Q5: Should you 'plink' the reed while adjusting the zero point gap? A5: Yes Q6: What is the pattern for end gap versus key, i.e., does it increase for lower keys and decrease for higher keys? A6: Yes. If you were to hold the reed plate on end, then sight down the row of reeds. You will find the gaps produce a pleasing and logical slope from #1 through #10

@davidkulmaczewski4911 3 ай бұрын

@@HARPSMITH900Awesome info, thanks so much for the response! If I may clarify..... can you explain if/how the end gapping changes for separate harmonicas in different keys? That is, if the end gap on Reed #2 is 0.007" *on a middle C harmonica* then will the end gap on Reed #2 *on a low G harmonica* be smaller, the same, or larger? How about Reed #2 on a high F harmonica? Thanks again.

@HARPSMITH900 2 ай бұрын

By the way David, I meant to answer the above Q1 with a "negative -.001" gap All harmonica reeds are machined with weight and dimensions unique to that particular pitch, and depending on the location (breath pattern) of the reed, i.e. BLOW or DRAW, your gap setting will probably change. This is why I encourage Harp Techs to experiment with various gaps--then document the "best performing" settings onto the Reed Calibration Chart. You may discover, for example, the middle gapping on your C Harmonica/Reed #4 BLOW slightly different from the identical reed that shows up on your Bb Harmonica/Reed #4 DRAW, or your F Harmonica/Reed #2 DRAW.@@davidkulmaczewski4911

@cincinnatipedalsteel4347 Ай бұрын

I wonder why they created the tuning with the flipping of the notes at hole 7?? Would be so much easier if it didn’t flip.

@HARPSMITH900 Ай бұрын

Hi Cincinnati, I believe Richter's design was to enable players to perform German Folk Songs (oom-pah, oom-pah) on this layout. The lower end of the harmonica held down the chord and bass line, while the mid to upper part of the harmonica played a major scale and encouraged melodic playing. There are novel tunings available today that favor the 2nd position (Cross Harp) player; where all notes on the DRAW side are higher--enabling Draw Bending. Check out Power Bending and Wilde Tunings...

@detharp 2 ай бұрын

on steel reeds too?❤

@HARPSMITH900 2 ай бұрын

Hey Deth-Harp, the fundamentals for gapping the diatonic harmonica are the same for Brass, Stainless Steel and Phosphor Bronze. The tolerances will be adjusted according to the unique breath pressure of the player. Good question😉

@wardje53 3 ай бұрын

hello, what is that red mark on the third draw reed?

@HARPSMITH900 3 ай бұрын

Hello Ward, at all harmonica factories, the machinist marks the stock with an indelible ink pen--identifying the beginning and end of the reed milling process. After they punch the reeds out from the stock (Brass, Phosphor Bronze, Stainless Steel), they would randomly select reeds, then measure the relative pitch against a tuner. The marking informs the machinist where, in the process, they would have to "tweak" the cutting tool. Damn good question!

@wardje53 3 ай бұрын

@@HARPSMITH900 Very interesting to know and thanks for the detailed explanation 👍 and have a nice day.

@HARPSMITH900 2 ай бұрын

I'm delighted you found the content useful. Don't hesitate to view the other HARPSMITH Benchcraft episodes.@@wardje53

@wardje53 2 ай бұрын

@@HARPSMITH900 I will definitely do that 👍

@uripmargono946 2 ай бұрын

All I want to know badly is how can you hit the draw bending notes in hole 2 n 3 that easily? What or how did you do it? The tongue, lips and jaw shape, position or what. Thank you.

@HARPSMITH900 2 ай бұрын

When I bend, I am keenly aware of the position of my tongue and by extension, the jaw and lips. My students, learning to bend found using "phonics" useful for positioning the tongue into the proper location for bending. For example; on the C harmonica, when DRAW bending on hole #3, enunciate on the : "" for the half step bend (1 semitone) = Bb "for the whole step bend (2 semitones) = A " for the whole step & half step (2 1/2 semitones) = Ab To learn the skills of bending in the shortest time possible, I recommend you go to David Barrett's for instruction.

@HARPSMITH900 2 ай бұрын

Oops, my phonics were edited out! TRY THIS: for Bb (1/2 step, 1 semitone) DRAW Bend for A (whole step) DRAW Bend for Ab (whole and 1/2 step) DRAW Bend