Tuning, Part 2: Harmonica Shootout

11/13/2013

Last night, I retuned a C Marine Band harmonica using A=432Hz as the reference. Below is an audio file comparing that harmonica to another C Marine Band harmonica tuned with A=440. I recorded it on my Sony PCMM10; it's a continuous .wav file and no EQ was applied afterwards, just light compression on the entire file to help highlight any differences between the two. I tried to play the same riffs the same way each time, but this is far from scientific. The 440Hz harmonica is first.

Tell me, what are your impressions?

UPDATE, 04/10/2014:

I am happy to announce that I can provide Hohner Marine Band Deluxe and Special 20 harmonicas re-tuned for use with A=432 instruments. For rates, please email me at glhundt_at_yahoo.com or use the contact form!

26 Comments

Ted Pettus

1/7/2014 01:42:42 pm

my ear is not that well trained and i strain to tell a difference. i would like to read the feedback from a more discerning listener.
where did you find a 432 harp? would like to acquire one.
if your guitar is tuned to 432, does it sound terribly out of place when you play a 440 harp?

Gerry Hundt

1/8/2014 03:20:12 am

Ted - I tuned a Marine Band harmonica using A=432. I will email you privately about it. Yes, the harp will sound out of tune with the guitar in the situation you described.

Torocaca

2/7/2014 04:59:41 am

Am very interested in knowing how to re-tune my harmonica - recently I re-tuned my guitar at 432hz and would like to be able to do a C or D harp

gerry hundt

4/10/2014 12:15:28 am

You'd file each reed of the harmonica near the rivet, plucking and blowing the reed to a tuner calibrated to A=432. If you're interested in a custom harmonica tuned to 432, please email me at glhundt@yahoo.com

Gerry Hundt

3/31/2014 05:22:30 am

Ted,

If you're interested in a custom harmonica tuned to 432, please email me at glhundt@yahoo.com.

John William Cornett link

11/23/2015 05:09:12 am

Yes please...can you "re-tune" harmonicas from A-440hz to A=432hz please?

Avery

11/14/2015 05:52:21 am

Please send info on how I can buy a 432 harmonica

Gerry

11/23/2015 07:14:51 am

John, Avery,

Please send an email to glhundt@yahoo.com and I'll put you on a mailing list for when I have harmonicas available.

Rod

3/28/2014 07:11:54 am

Hi, I've been looking for a 432 hz tuned harmonica but no luck with that. Could you please explain me how to re-tune my harmonica to 432. My mail is rodrigoayalagt@outlook.com I would appreciate so much the explanation. Thank you

Gerry Hundt

4/10/2014 12:16:39 am

Rod,

You'd file each reed of the harmonica near the rivet, plucking and blowing the reed to a tuner calibrated to A=432. If you're interested in a custom harmonica tuned to 432, please email me at glhundt@yahoo.com

John WIlliam Cornett link

3/21/2015 01:18:00 pm

Needs Harmonicas in 432hz
Can you help?

hector guzman

5/10/2014 11:37:26 pm

how much for a harmonica 432hz,, i am not sure what key it is suippose to be but we started using 432 tuning in our rock band,, we play a song called the wizard by black sabbath,, so need to buy a harmonica in 432hz,, price??? maybe u know what key the harmonica should be,, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MeZ8uVIOIhM

Gerry Hundt

5/11/2014 01:39:20 am

Hi Hector!

Looks like you'll need a harmonica in the key of D to play the song like the record. I offer Hohner Special 20 for $75 and Marine Band Deluxe for $100, plus $10 US shipping for up to 4 harps. You can send funds & shipping address to heezee_at_steadygroove.com or use the shopping cart at http://432harmonica.weebly.com/. Thanks for the interest!

Mr Rude link

10/5/2014 09:05:37 pm

Hay man, nice work... i was googling if i could get myself a set of harps tuned to 432, n found your site.... I will work out how to do myself as im in Australia... i wante to comment on your clip though.. i am a 30 year mutlti instrumentalist muso, i can tune anything to concert pitch by ear etc.. i have recently discovered teh 432 hz thing.. and in the 440 part at the start, it sounds like its got 'wobble' like when you got a string slightly out of tune on your guitar or something, - your harp isnt out of tune of course, but what i am saying is, to tained ear - the difference is exceeeeedlingly obvious. It is like chalk n cheese.
Trust us oldies folks, 432 is the go, its goood for you, and it sounds 10000000000 times better.
1 simple fact - 432 is in tune with animal sounds and sounds of nature. All the intervals for notes are in whole number - 440 tuning has about 4 or something, the rest are like xxx.yy - not whole numbers.... what does that tell you? its out of whack.
The spartans increaased the pitch of their instruments as a governent order so theri people were more war like and less peaceful,,,, it was a the number one nazi propagandist that pushed the 440 concert pitch thing.
ne hooo. good luck everyone! its worth the trouble to retune,,, after a while you wont be able to stand 440... i cant. . . . .
.. now... to work out my flute to 432.. doh! onya!

Gerry Hundt

12/8/2014 02:17:40 am

Thanks for the note! I have been shipping these everywhere. Check out options at http://432harmonica.weebly.com/store/c1/Featured_Products.html.

Chris

12/7/2014 08:35:23 pm

Hey
I like to buy a harp in 432...
But i dont understand the key choices from 1...20?
What is right here? Can you explain it to me please?
Greetings from switzerland
Chris

Gerry Hundt

12/8/2014 02:13:15 am

Hi Chris,

As far as key choices for harmonica, it depends on what style of music you're playing and the key the rest of the band is in. Tell me a little more about what you're doing and I can make a recommendation. Once we've figured that out, you can easily place your order here: http://432harmonica.weebly.com/store/c1/Featured_Products.html

Chris

12/8/2014 02:01:49 pm

Hey
I like to play for myself in C or G. I play since 3 years can play some songs some bendings a little blues and i love just to improve freestyle...
Greetings

Chris

Gerry Hundt

12/8/2014 11:11:38 pm

Hi Chris - you'd want a Special 20 (432 Hz) in the key of C, I think. You can select one at the following link, and remember to add EU shipping to the cart :) http://432harmonica.weebly.com/store/c1/Featured_Products.html

Gerry Hundt link

12/8/2014 11:12:30 pm

John Tingle

9/21/2016 02:37:25 pm

I find everything music @ 432Hz is more pleasing to my ears. warmer, yet the notes more audible, and cleaner. Whereas in 440Hz tuning everything seems a tad harsh or colder in comparison. my two cents.

John Sincs

9/23/2016 06:51:49 pm

I could not agree more. It just FEELS better!

J.C. Spires link

11/10/2021 11:09:41 am

YES!

Aloy

11/8/2019 07:17:05 am

I tuned my banjolele to 432, s trummed it once, and my ears began opening.

I haven't listened to 440 tuning since then. I haven't blown any of my expensive custom harmonicas since that day either.

The logic of tuning to 432hz has me thinking in terms of geometry and math for the first time in 59 years!

I wake up with number patterns in my mind, ways geometry and spiritual numbers are also in tune with 432hz.

I always understood things intuitively, math never resonated with me at all, as a matter of fact; I got A's all through college, but barely squeezed a low B in math.

I was diagnosed as being dyslexic with numbers a few years ago... but 432 tuning fits in with so many numbers in life! that math is on my mind all day: ever since I tried 432 tuning, and with that as a reference, my singing voice has improved by 100%.

I've always collected musical instruments. I have a bunch of custom harps with brass, stainless steel, and crystal combs, a flute, a trumpet, a recorder, and a sax... but if I can't retune them, I'm getting rid of them all.

Any 432hz instruments available, I want them!

Please contact me if you wanna sell some 432 harmonicas.

J.C. Spires link

11/10/2021 11:10:15 am

Love it!

J.C. Spires link

11/10/2021 11:06:06 am

I recently became aware of the 432Hz tuning - I am convinced it is superior. I play guitar tuned exclusively there now. Less interference somehow. I know many disagree but I hear it and feel it. I loved hearing your comparison and absolutely hear a big difference with the winner being 432 Hz! I need to retune my harmonicas but need someone else to do it I think.