Slidemeister (Chromatic & related only - no Diatonic discussion) > Chromatic Terms Dump (Temporary Board)

Projection

(1/2) > >>

A.J.Fedor:
Projection = ?

rusty:
The ability of an acoustic instrument to be heard in a large venue or when playing with other instruments. This can be done with tone or volume or both. Sometimes instruments are tuned slightly sharp as well to allow the instrument  to stand out. The ideal is an instrument that can produce a sound that will blend in when disired but can stand out for that solo. An instrument that can play a soft passage yet still project is highly valued. Naturally the acoustics of the room have a large effect on the projection. I once played in the National Cathedral (it was closed at the time, I know somebody  8) ) you can hear a pin drop anywere in the place but I digress.....   Some instruments are loud yet don't project. I refer to these as HSO (harmonica shaped objects) ;)

All this is mute if your recording or using a mic. Just crank it up to 11 :o

Grizzly:
An instrument that is "slightly" sharp is still sharp. I'm guessing this has a certain credence in jazz circles. I heard a recording of a sax player who played sharp, presumably intentionally and for the reason given (projection), and he was unlistenable. It's better if the other players aren't also playing the melody, or have chord progressions in the same range, but there are limits. It's either in tune or it's not.

Playing softly and still projecting is, IMO, a function of the skill of the player, not the instrument.

Tom

iowaplayer:
i've known several world-class chromatic players who tuned their harps anywhere from 442 A to 445 A.
i've also known some guitarists who tune up a bit, to stand out.

yes, sharp is sharp, but the harmonica changes pitch for all kinds of reasons, all active during performance.  in thinking about it, listening to a symphony orchestra has got to be a study in unequal tuning between instruments. 

while all those instruments tune at the beginning of the evening, how many string players hit exactly on tune on their fingerboards every time?  and how long to horns and winds stay in tune through an evening's temperature cycles?  and with the sensitivity of wind and horn to embrochure, how many of them really stay exactly on pitch throughout a performance.  to add to all that, pianos require tuning if someone looks at them in a strange manner.  yet it all sounds pretty good during performance.

in a harmonica trio, you have three sets of reeds, all liable to the vagaries of pitch changing, playing together, usually pretty well.  my dad tuned about 442-443 A most of the time, and i don't remember a single time my ear caught him sounding out of tune.  i DID sense that he stood out from the chord harmonica better, but never out of tune.

to sum up, i suspect what happens in all these situations is that the human brain processes all that sound and makes somekind of sense of it all.  and that includes sensing increased projection from a slightly sharp lead instrument.

iowaplayer

rusty:
Facts are some players do play a tad sharp for the reason stated. Can it be overdone? Can a player still sound bad? I suspect so  ::) String players often "adjust"  their frequency for specific effect. Harmonica players also in some situations. Remember "tempered" tuning is out of tune by design.  Pitch is never perfect unless your playing solo with an instrument that is tuned for a specific key* Is tuning sharp the best way to project? I suspect not. Yet it is still done.

*see Just tuning and Tempared tuning

Yes the player can affect projection. The instrument must however have the ability to respond. Some instruments respond better and are labeled as having better projection.

Navigation

[0] Message Index

[#] Next page