Should you TUNE your harmonicas? 

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I tune them plus I customize them. I tune compromise for myself because of those hot chords and octaves. I use the Andrew Zajac method based on 442 pitch. Since then, I tuned all my harmonicas whatever the brand. You'd be surprised at how slim is the difference between brands and models when they are all tuned the same way!!! Andrew Zajac is a great canadian customizer who shares a lot of his knowledge. The combs he produces are fantastic too by the way. Because, I did not knew about tuning a year ago, I kept buying harps. Now, because I decided to, it gave me a ton of experience tuning and customising. Very good video and I hope more players will get to do it themselves.

This is great. Good points about sustainability and meeting interesting people.

YES, you must have them tuned. John Cook has tuned my harps for a few years now since i attended your Edinburgh workshop. His work is brilliant. Thanks Mick.

Recently Iv’e been replacing the reed plates if a single reed breaks. Its fairly cost effective, do not have the time to mess about tuning or replacing single reeds.

Great vid, thanks Tomlin. This is a practice that any serious (maybe even non -serious) harp player should learn & do. When I started playing ('70's), Hohners were $11. LOOK at the price of them now! ($50+). I switched to Seydel harps a few years back, as they offer certain styles with stainless steel reads (Hohner typically uses brass reeds). The stainless steel reeds are much more durable, & after tuning several times, you can always purchase new reed plates (plug - Rockin' Ron's Music 4 Less). I typically check new harps out of the box with a chromatic digital tuner, & you'd be surprised by the tuning tolerances allowed (or lack of). With the information that's available on RU-vid, ANYONE can learn to tune the reeds, just MAKE SURE you try it on an old harp first. Sometimes it's a matter of a single scratch to the reed that can change the tuning. Thanks again Tomlin - Harpe Diem!

I think I will try to listen and just as any start to go out of tune, I will give it to a beginner. Like ya like a cousin!!

Interesting; but I was sort of assuming this would be DIY tuning demonstration/lesson. If one was going to sling the harp otherwise, one has little to lose giving it a go.

I play drums as well as harmonica, and it has always bothered me that those are 2 instruments that have so much waste associated with them. But this is nice to see that we can extend the life of our harps.

Excellent information ✅

It's always a good idea to re tune - they will take to re tuning many times until the reeds finally lose all their tensile strength. But a better way is to learn to do it yourself! I could help you with that,,,been doing it for many many years - it's pretty easy. Once you get the hang of it you can do a reed in about 2 minutes - if you have several reeds out a little bit longer...... I teach harmonica back here in the states so I am not being a wise guy...just trying to help bro! By the way you are an excellent player - great moves and tone!!

I think it's worth it to keep the life of your harmonica going and as you say, less wasteful. As some have commented maybe worth learning to do it yourself

I’m an American living in Japan Tokyo how do I find someone to tune my Suzuki

Sure is in sweet tune!👍😎

Your such a good guy in addition to being a damn good teach!!

i need to do this as the 2 yonbergs i bought at christmas both need gapping and one has the 4 blow out of tune

I've been thinking about the waste of tossing harps too. I'm very seriously considering buying a Seydel with the stainless steel reeds and all, I've heard they last a long long time. I can always change out the reed plates and basically keep it forever as long as they are available, correct?

just tune them myself, lot of videos out here on YT how you do it. love the vid though. btw what amp is in the background to be seen? greetings from Cologne.

I can do 432 hz tuning there? Thenk you

Please help me how to tune a harmonica i just buy in for a really cheap price and it arrived put of tune and now It's been sitting in my closet for a month and I wanna play but I remember it's not tuned, Please someone help me

thanks! great idea!

Is there anybody who tunes harps in Ontario, Canada. Any tips on how i might find a tuner?

What Ulta Sonic cleaner do you use ?

How much does it cost to have it tuned? 😊

The title is "Should you TUNE your harmonicas?". The video talks about "Should you PAY someone else to TUNE your harmonicas".

I think we should lear how to tune them too…

I will have absolutely no problem taking your old out of tune Harps. I'll even pay the shipping. Simply box them up for me and you will now have a nice clean space in your studio ..... to collect more out of tune harps for me... ;~] I've been tuning my own now for a while. Practiced on a 15 dollar harp then started on my Promasters as needed. It's really simple. I use a Korg TM-50 Combo Tuner / Metronome. Got it on Amazon. There are a few tuning vid's on RU-vid that were really helpful. Just search Harmonica Tuning . Cheers -v-

Tomlin, great vid, and an important issue to think about. In my part of the world Ontario, Canada the harps I buy ( Seydel Blues 1847 Classic) cost approx, $126.00 plus 13% tax. So for me it's an expensive investment not just for one, but when you've got many different keys, and duplicates, or triplets in some keys, the idea of disregarding a harp when in need of repair for tuning or new reed is not an option I could afford. So use and reuse, giving renewed life to a tired harp is the way to go. For me the cost of repair for one new reed is about $ 28.00, plus an extra cost for tuning and cleaning ( in some cases) if needed. Big difference as one can see between repairing and replacing with a new one. Plus it's done right by a professional. I've attempted to fix myself but that's never worked well.

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I’m actually quite surprised a professional player like yourself does not tune his own harmonica’s !

Look me in the eyes god dammit, plz

You teach harmonica and you can't do your own tuning :)