Thanks for the hint of blowing the reed while pressing a key! For me it was the discovery of the year! hahaha Have you ever tested whether there is a difference in pitch between this way of testing (blowing the reed) and with the melodica closed?
Escaletosfera - O canal da escaleta! Hey thanks! Good question - there is a sweet spot when you blow the reed which is more accurate. If you find your self blowing the reed really hard and not getting much noise then I don't think the pitch is going to be very accurate. If you have a go at it let me know what you think :)
I work on my harmonica reeds and thought some of this clip similar to what one can do when working on hamonicas. One can put their lips to the back of the reedplate and draw/inhale steadily on X reed to test pitch. Not sure if that's possible with a melodica reedplate but I thought I would suggest the idea anyway. With a harmonica reedplate, it is held to the lips so that the notes run vertically, not horizontally, easier to isolate the reed with the lips that way. Reeds may be flatted in pitch without removing material at the reed's base by adding weight to the free end of the reed. We use poster putty, known as "Blue Tac" and similar names. A tiny, tiny bit centered on the tip of the reed is all one needs. It is a totally reversable process, unlike removing reed material. Removing reed material at its base weakens the reed making it more prone to break sooner than later due to the thinner, weaker spot made by tuning there. BluTac stays put forever. Another thing we use to work around in the reed slots, maybe to clean anything in there or if a reed is stuck, is a thin shim. We use the tiny piece of metal found in "security tags". It is thin, strong and flexible. Maybe the thinnest piece on a feeler gauge fan would fit the slots, too. One may be able to save a few steps, lessening the dis/reassemble process, maybe, by plinking the reed that is being tuned. Maybe the tuner will pick it up, maybe not. However, one may be able to get a good reference using an octave away reed by plinking them both, one then the other. If one's ear is good enough, it may be possible to tune that way, sidestepping the drawing the reed by breath process.
Thanks! I bought the Suzuki M-37 and most of the notes are sharp. A few are flat (the A above middle C)! Very frustrating. Now I see how to tune it. Wish me success!
Awesome! Don't worry too much if they are sharp. With moisture and volume they naturally become flatter when playing. The louder you play, the flatter the note becomes so it being tuned sharp is necessary to an extent. Enjoy!
@@mrtechie6810 once you get use how to tune without damaging the reeds it gets quicker. I havnt tuned mine in years and I perform with them every week quite loudly. Usually you just need to tune 1 or 2 notes. Make sure you release the moisture after playing as well, as that can ruin the reeds
its kind of a bummer that you have to damage the reed in order to tune it. are replacement reeds reasonable or is it worth just buying a whole new melodica if u have, say a $100 suzuki. And when buying new reeds does that mean more than likely you will have to tune them as soon as you install? Since material has to come off the reed for it to be tuned, does that mean that these rarely drop tuning? save temperature flux and such.
Hey Jack thanks! and yeah I was detuning the melodica to show a difference. Unfortunately most melodicas are out of tune, especially the cheap one I use in the video haha
Sometimes blowing too hard could knock the reed, as a whole tone is quite a different. You can still tune it back up though using the technique in the video. File the tip (not the bass) and keep checking to see if it sharpens. Hope that helps!
Bro I cant find the answer. Is it normal? Cuz my melodica most right side notes especially B and C needs more air to sound. Cuz left hand side notes are easier to play. But B and C at the most right is requiring me to more air to blow.
I can't find info on my situation anywhere so I'll describe a little here: I am a professional musician who now plays melodica in a community band. I've tried many melodicas, but tuning has always been such a crap shoot. I'll tune one note (usually one that's really flat), raising it by about a half step. Sounds great immediately after tuning, but after playing it again in a rehearsal or performance it actually REVERTS back to the original crap tuning?? This has happened on every melodica I've had to some degree, I now I have a $400 professional model which I had hoped would prevent this from happening. But it did this week.. so either these notes are "bad," or my tuning technique/materials are the problem. Do you only use the very tip of the file?
It is unusual for the more expensive melodicas to go out of tune that quick unless knocked, or if the moisture is left in. Also, if you are playing in a group and having to play very loudly all the time, that might be the problem. I do a lot of function band music with the melodica and either use a microphone, or a melodica that has an input. If I didnt then the melodica would go out of tune. Also when playing too loudly it sounds out of tune immediately after the gig, but reverts back by the next day. Hope this helps!
@@natitude09 it's a Suzuki PRO-37v2 Professional Alto Melodion. It was like $300 so I was hoping the tuning would be better 😭 but my high A went out completely, I think I shaved at it too much.
I'm super late, but it seems that the Suzuki Pro is really just a cheap melodica that's dressed up to look fancy and expensive, and doesn't actually have any features that make it a better instrument.
I accidentally got my reed stuck in the hole, is there anyway to get it out again? I used another recommendation of dental floss but it came out anyway :(
Hey, so if the reed is stuck underneath instead of sitting on top where it should be, it is very likely it has been warped out of place permanently. This will effect tuning and you will probably get a horrible buzzing sound once you do remove it. Possible a toothpick could do the job, or tweezers. I personally have not had that issue much (because the reed would break before recovering it!) Dental floss sounds like an interesting idea though!
The reed plates usually differ with melodica brand. What's the model? You can always try emailing the manufacturer, but cheaper melodicas may not sell the individual reed plates.
@@pascalkempa8005 wow i forgot i made this comment. Well spoiler alert i did! I bought one!! I learned how to play basic songs with it and i am now learning the ukulele
@@savyluwiii ha, perfect! That’s great to hear. I’m a pianist by trade and have mine since roughly a year. It’s been great :) Which one did you buy? I have the Suzuki melodion.
Debasish Saikia what are you using to file down the reed with? If the pitch isn't changing then you might need to do it for longer or file a bit harder. Also be careful to not get carried away or you might break the reed
Debasish Saikia Hey! So your B needs to be made higher (sharper) in pitch. You need to file the tip of the reed. Copy what I do at 2:10 of the video and that should solve it :)
A needle is too flexible. The tip of an Exacto knife can be used to slightly gouge one end or the other of the reed. When you take apart a melodica that has been previously tuned, sometimes this is the kind of marking, scratches, that you will see. Sometimes it seems to have been done at the factory. It's a way to make small adjustments.
Tuner indicates that it is sharp and you start scraping from the tip of the reed. I hope you are better at playing the melodica than tuning it because this was not an example of intelligence.
I also believe he tuned it badly on purpose for a joke, and just to highlight how to change the tuning. It's very clearly out of tune at the end 😂 I'm sure his playing is better or he should quit
So should all my notes be slightly sharp since you say melodica flattens notes a bit as you play louder? or should I keep them all exactly on tune? right now, how it came from the factory, most are a bit sharp, but a good amount are exactly on tune, too.
Thanks for the hint of blowing the reed while pressing a key! For me it was the discovery of the year! hahaha Have you ever tested whether there is a difference in pitch between this way of testing (blowing the reed) and with the melodica closed?
Escaletosfera - O canal da escaleta! Hey thanks!
Good question - there is a sweet spot when you blow the reed which is more accurate. If you find your self blowing the reed really hard and not getting much noise then I don't think the pitch is going to be very accurate. If you have a go at it let me know what you think :)
I work on my harmonica reeds and thought some of this clip similar to what one can do when working on hamonicas. One can put their lips to the back of the reedplate and draw/inhale steadily on X reed to test pitch. Not sure if that's possible with a melodica reedplate but I thought I would suggest the idea anyway. With a harmonica reedplate, it is held to the lips so that the notes run vertically, not horizontally, easier to isolate the reed with the lips that way.
Reeds may be flatted in pitch without removing material at the reed's base by adding weight to the free end of the reed. We use poster putty, known as "Blue Tac" and similar names. A tiny, tiny bit centered on the tip of the reed is all one needs. It is a totally reversable process, unlike removing reed material. Removing reed material at its base weakens the reed making it more prone to break sooner than later due to the thinner, weaker spot made by tuning there. BluTac stays put forever.
Another thing we use to work around in the reed slots, maybe to clean anything in there or if a reed is stuck, is a thin shim. We use the tiny piece of metal found in "security tags". It is thin, strong and flexible. Maybe the thinnest piece on a feeler gauge fan would fit the slots, too.
One may be able to save a few steps, lessening the dis/reassemble process, maybe, by plinking the reed that is being tuned. Maybe the tuner will pick it up, maybe not. However, one may be able to get a good reference using an octave away reed by plinking them both, one then the other. If one's ear is good enough, it may be possible to tune that way, sidestepping the drawing the reed by breath process.
Oh Thanks! I really need to do it in my YAMAHA melodica.
It the best and only one method to check without assembling. Thank you! I will try to do it with my Hohner in the near future. It is crazy flat.
Thanks! I bought the Suzuki M-37 and most of the notes are sharp. A few are flat (the A above middle C)! Very frustrating.
Now I see how to tune it. Wish me success!
Awesome! Don't worry too much if they are sharp. With moisture and volume they naturally become flatter when playing. The louder you play, the flatter the note becomes so it being tuned sharp is necessary to an extent.
Enjoy!
@@natitude09 thanks. I just tuned it. It took over two hours!
@@mrtechie6810 once you get use how to tune without damaging the reeds it gets quicker. I havnt tuned mine in years and I perform with them every week quite loudly. Usually you just need to tune 1 or 2 notes. Make sure you release the moisture after playing as well, as that can ruin the reeds
@@natitude09 uh oh, "damaging the reeds -- how?
@@mrtechie6810 if you file side to side then you risk bending a reed and snapping it. Keep the motion up and down the reed
Lmaoo "Great." Thanks dude
this demo ends with the melodica being OUT OF TUNE as FK! haha best ending, can't stop laughing
Yeah, before tuning +10%, after tuning -20%.😂
Yeah, before tuning +10%, after tuning -20%.😂
Chiptune my Hammond 44 melodica by myself thanks to your tutorial thank you subscribing
Great to hear! Thanks
its kind of a bummer that you have to damage the reed in order to tune it. are replacement reeds reasonable or is it worth just buying a whole new melodica if u have, say a $100 suzuki. And when buying new reeds does that mean more than likely you will have to tune them as soon as you install? Since material has to come off the reed for it to be tuned, does that mean that these rarely drop tuning? save temperature flux and such.
look at the comment by @roberttemple2521 above for an answer to that question!
Thank you, very helpful!
Bro thankyou for the help
Cheers for the lesson! That tip for blowing into the reed to reference the pitch is gold!
but 3:50 was wildly out of tune, and I hope you know that
Hey Jack thanks! and yeah I was detuning the melodica to show a difference. Unfortunately most melodicas are out of tune, especially the cheap one I use in the video haha
Wow,thanks,I didn't know that! I have a melodica from some time and some notes are out of tune!
My A flat sounds like a F sharp. Im not sure what the issue is, any advice?
Sometimes blowing too hard could knock the reed, as a whole tone is quite a different. You can still tune it back up though using the technique in the video. File the tip (not the bass) and keep checking to see if it sharpens.
Hope that helps!
Bro I cant find the answer. Is it normal? Cuz my melodica most right side notes especially B and C needs more air to sound. Cuz left hand side notes are easier to play. But B and C at the most right is requiring me to more air to blow.
I just got a melodica with a low A that is nearly half a step flat. Is it possible to sharpen it by nearly a half step? Thanks!
Yeh definitely give it a go! Try not to get carried away and make it too sharp or break it though. I know from experience
@@natitude09 Thanks very much!
I can't find info on my situation anywhere so I'll describe a little here: I am a professional musician who now plays melodica in a community band. I've tried many melodicas, but tuning has always been such a crap shoot. I'll tune one note (usually one that's really flat), raising it by about a half step. Sounds great immediately after tuning, but after playing it again in a rehearsal or performance it actually REVERTS back to the original crap tuning?? This has happened on every melodica I've had to some degree, I now I have a $400 professional model which I had hoped would prevent this from happening. But it did this week.. so either these notes are "bad," or my tuning technique/materials are the problem. Do you only use the very tip of the file?
It is unusual for the more expensive melodicas to go out of tune that quick unless knocked, or if the moisture is left in. Also, if you are playing in a group and having to play very loudly all the time, that might be the problem. I do a lot of function band music with the melodica and either use a microphone, or a melodica that has an input. If I didnt then the melodica would go out of tune.
Also when playing too loudly it sounds out of tune immediately after the gig, but reverts back by the next day.
Hope this helps!
@@natitude09 thanks for responding. Yes I do play quite loudly. I wish it reverted back to normal for me 😅
@@bexdee3562 which model are you using?
@@natitude09 it's a Suzuki PRO-37v2 Professional Alto Melodion. It was like $300 so I was hoping the tuning would be better 😭 but my high A went out completely, I think I shaved at it too much.
I'm super late, but it seems that the Suzuki Pro is really just a cheap melodica that's dressed up to look fancy and expensive, and doesn't actually have any features that make it a better instrument.
THX very much
shit was super helpful!
i have a bent plate on my F note . what should i do ? i dont wanna mess with the reed plate since its very delicate to handle .
Unfortunately I have no fix to a bent plate. I had a couple on the Hammond 44 melodica, and I just had to order new reed plates and replace them.
oh i see .maybe ill just get a new one . thank you for your response . ☺️
I accidentally got my reed stuck in the hole, is there anyway to get it out again? I used another recommendation of dental floss but it came out anyway :(
Hey, so if the reed is stuck underneath instead of sitting on top where it should be, it is very likely it has been warped out of place permanently. This will effect tuning and you will probably get a horrible buzzing sound once you do remove it. Possible a toothpick could do the job, or tweezers. I personally have not had that issue much (because the reed would break before recovering it!) Dental floss sounds like an interesting idea though!
Where do I find reeds for the smaller 32 key model melodica? One Reed snapped and now the whole thing is pretty much broke.
The reed plates usually differ with melodica brand. What's the model?
You can always try emailing the manufacturer, but cheaper melodicas may not sell the individual reed plates.
Nathan de Broize-King Never mind, I managed to save it by soldering the reed back on and carefully filing it. I was shocked that it worked actually.
What mm file do you recommend and are you using a pointed file? Many thanks
Sorry for the late reply! Id recommend as pointy as possible to scratch the reed more accurately
What type of file are you using?
Now I know how to tune melodica but I don't have one
Buy one, it's a great portable instrument!
@@pascalkempa8005 wow i forgot i made this comment. Well spoiler alert i did! I bought one!! I learned how to play basic songs with it and i am now learning the ukulele
@@savyluwiii ha, perfect! That’s great to hear.
I’m a pianist by trade and have mine since roughly a year. It’s been great :)
Which one did you buy? I have the Suzuki melodion.
bro i have tried but its not work what should i do now
Debasish Saikia what are you using to file down the reed with? If the pitch isn't changing then you might need to do it for longer or file a bit harder. Also be careful to not get carried away or you might break the reed
in my melodica the tune of b key is little down so how could i fix it
Debasish Saikia Hey! So your B needs to be made higher (sharper) in pitch. You need to file the tip of the reed. Copy what I do at 2:10 of the video and that should solve it :)
what happened if i break the reed
Debasish Saikia I snapped a reed once and had to buy a new set of reeds. What melodica you tuning?
If you're skilled with a soldering iron, then then it's entirely possible to solder it back on.
can i use a needle on the reed
Debasish Saikia a needle would work but might take a while
A needle is too flexible. The tip of an Exacto knife can be used to slightly gouge one end or the other of the reed. When you take apart a melodica that has been previously tuned, sometimes this is the kind of marking, scratches, that you will see. Sometimes it seems to have been done at the factory. It's a way to make small adjustments.
If quality is good enough. Not cheap Chinese toys. I bought one on Ali and disappointed. Better to pay more for brand one instrument.
i am using a paper to suport the reed and also using a file on the reed. but its not working
Debasish Saikia maybe using something better to support it, like card? Then you can file down harder
A strip clipped off a business card, for example. I sometimes use an injectible razor blade.
TK s
Tuner indicates that it is sharp and you start scraping from the tip of the reed. I hope you are better at playing the melodica than tuning it because this was not an example of intelligence.
It's a melodica, not a harmonica
@@natitude09 thanks, I edited it. But what he does is still diametrically wrong.
I also believe he tuned it badly on purpose for a joke, and just to highlight how to change the tuning. It's very clearly out of tune at the end 😂 I'm sure his playing is better or he should quit
@@natitude09 he is a joke for sure
That I'm sure of. Happy new year!
Well I decided I am not buying one 😅
So should all my notes be slightly sharp since you say melodica flattens notes a bit as you play louder? or should I keep them all exactly on tune? right now, how it came from the factory, most are a bit sharp, but a good amount are exactly on tune, too.
That's correct. Just a bit sharp to compensate for when you play the note with a bit of power