[Harp-L] The silent harmonica
martin oldsberg
Different story now, and I´m not planning to make my next door neighbour an enemy: he seems rather a nice guy, but it´s apparent that he hears too much of me, even in the daytime.
My only solution so far is playing the music I´m playing along with (that´s my usual way of practicing; also it drowns some of the harmonica shrillness) at a more moderate volume, and wrapping the harp in a T-shirt or something. Awkward. But it still sounds too loud.
Any ideas here are welcome. You who have your own houses, garages, attics, basements, woodsheds or simply Mother Nature at your disposal can just lean back in your easy chairs and keep smiling, but if you want to live in the heart of a city this is something you have to take into the equation.
Cheers,
from
Martin,
in downtown Gothenburg,
Sweden.
Degregorio, Jeffery
-----Original Message-----
From: harp-l-...@harp-l.org [mailto:harp-l-...@harp-l.org] On Behalf Of martin oldsberg
Sent: Tuesday, November 22, 2011 4:34 PM
To: har...@harp-l.org
Subject: [Harp-L] The silent harmonica
Becuse of a move to a new apartment I�ｿｽm faced with a nasty problem: it�ｿｽs not sound proof here. I�ｿｽve been spoiled for many years with blasting away on my harmonica, record player, or various instruments day�ｿｽand night regardless of neighbours. Never had a complaint:�ｿｽeither the�ｿｽve been deaf, scared of me or just un-disturbed. (Probably the latter, due to�ｿｽa solid house construction.)
�ｿｽ
Different story now, and I�ｿｽm not planning to make my next door neighbour an enemy: he seems rather a nice guy, but it�ｿｽs apparent that he hears too much of me, even in the daytime.
�ｿｽ My only solution so far�ｿｽis playing the music I�ｿｽm playing along with (that�ｿｽs my usual way of practicing; also it drowns some of the harmonica shrillness) at a more moderate volume, and wrapping the harp in a T-shirt or something. Awkward. But it still sounds too loud.
�ｿｽ
Any ideas here are welcome. You who have your own houses, garages, attics,�ｿｽbasements, woodsheds or simply Mother Nature at your disposal can just lean back in your easy chairs and keep smiling, but if you want to live in the heart of a city this is something you have to take into the equation.
�ｿｽ
Cheers,
from
Martin,
in downtown Gothenburg,
Sweden.
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Joseph Leone
On Nov 22, 2011, at 5:34 PM, martin oldsberg wrote:
> Becuse of a move to a new apartment I�m faced with a nasty problem: it�s not sound proof here. I�ve been spoiled for many years with blasting away on my harmonica, record player, or various instruments day and night regardless of neighbours. Never had a complaint: either the�ve been deaf, scared of me or just un-disturbed. (Probably the latter, due to a solid house construction.)
>
> Different story now, and I�m not planning to make my next door neighbour an enemy: he seems rather a nice guy, but it�s apparent that he hears too much of me, even in the daytime.
> My only solution so far is playing the music I�m playing along with (that�s my usual way of practicing; also it drowns some of the harmonica shrillness) at a more moderate volume, and wrapping the harp in a T-shirt or something. Awkward. But it still sounds too loud.
>
> Any ideas here are welcome.
Since you're in the 'match capitol' of the world..how about a match box? Any room for it? What it (basically) is is a cardboard box large enough to hold a large refridgerator. It is SEVERAL layers thick and can have foam between the layers. You equp it to sit inside and with a close fitting door, it can cut down the sound. I built one when I played trumpet and lived in an apt. It was 2/3x1 meter and 1 1/2 meter high. It had a light, shelf, seat.
smo-joe
George Miklas
When did you start measuring in the metric system? Oh I see... you
converted your measurements for Martin because he plays harmonica in a
nation where the metric system is the standard...
Robert Hale
<martino...@yahoo.com>wrote:
> Becuse of a move to a new apartment I´m faced with a nasty problem: it´s
> not sound proof here.
I wonder if your harp cupped into a mic, then mixed with music to your
headphones would keep all the sound controlled? There would be a little
acoustic energy from your harp, but would give you lots of volume potential.
Too bad, I can relate. I rounded up many egg cartons made of pressed paper
(not Styrofoam) glued them to 3 panels of flat cardboard. Helps a little.
If temperatures and ventilation are suitable for a time, a closet can be a
practice room.
Robert Hale
Learn Harmonica by Webcam
Low Rates, High Success
http://www.youtube.com/DUKEofWAIL <http://www.youtube.com/user/DUKEofWAIL>
http://www.dukeofwail.com
Joseph Leone
On Nov 22, 2011, at 9:16 PM, George Miklas wrote:
> Hey Joey,
>
> When did you start measuring in the metric system? Oh I see... you converted your measurements for Martin because he plays harmonica in a nation where the metric system is the standard...
Big George..as a consulate brat whom lived about 1/3 his first 18 years in Austria, Italy, France, another 1/3 at Staten Island, and another 1/3 at Pittsburgh, I have always known the metric system. And I use them interchangeably. Those sizes are: 26 1/4" x 39 3/8" x 59 1/8". And no, we weren't rich. lolol
smo-joe (happy gobble gobble) :)
Vern
An extra layer of wallboard would probably help. However, it would not be effective unless all openings in the walls were blocked. A hole the size of a quarter can negate the good done by the most massive walls.
Don't forget the floor and ceiling. If sound can travel up and over thicker walls, extra thickness/mass will be pointless.
Because of their extra mass, brick or concrete-block walls would be most effective.
Staggered studs in the wall can help suppress conduction through the wall. They are most effective with multiple layers of wallboard.
The logarithmic response of the neighbor's ears means that you will have to reduce the transmitted sound energy by a factor of 100 or more (20 db) for the neighbor to perceive a meaningful reduction in sound.
IF your apartment has heated garages, could you practice in your car?
I suggest that you visit the practice rooms of a college/university music department to see what is involved and to judge its effectiveness. Open the door a tiny crack and hear how much sound comes out.
I understand that the above remedies are not really practical in most apartments. However, this post might save you from a big effort and expense that would be ineffective.
Sorry to be the bearer of such discouraging news.
Vern
On Nov 22, 2011, at 2:37 PM, Degregorio, Jeffery wrote:
> My brother has a house and he puts some type of foam material in various places on the wall. This might help the acoustics. You might want to research this option.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: harp-l-...@harp-l.org [mailto:harp-l-...@harp-l.org] On Behalf Of martin oldsberg
> Sent: Tuesday, November 22, 2011 4:34 PM
> To: har...@harp-l.org
> Subject: [Harp-L] The silent harmonica
>
> Becuse of a move to a new apartment I�m faced with a nasty problem: it�s not sound proof here. I�ve been spoiled for many years with blasting away on my harmonica, record player, or various instruments day and night regardless of neighbours. Never had a complaint: either the�ve been deaf, scared of me or just un-disturbed. (Probably the latter, due to a solid house construction.)
>
> Different story now, and I�m not planning to make my next door neighbour an enemy: he seems rather a nice guy, but it�s apparent that he hears too much of me, even in the daytime.
> My only solution so far is playing the music I�m playing along with (that�s my usual way of practicing; also it drowns some of the harmonica shrillness) at a more moderate volume, and wrapping the harp in a T-shirt or something. Awkward. But it still sounds too loud.
>
> Any ideas here are welcome. You who have your own houses, garages, attics, basements, woodsheds or simply Mother Nature at your disposal can just lean back in your easy chairs and keep smiling, but if you want to live in the heart of a city this is something you have to take into the equation.
Elizabeth Hess
technique for cupping a bullet mic that entails holding a glass or a
coffee mug tightly enough so that barely any sound comes out. It's
like a mute for your harp! Of course, you could relax your grip
enough to hear yourself with the music you're using for accompaniment.
http://www.harpgear.com/atone.html
Elizabeth (aka "Tin Lizzie")
David Fertig
It seems reasonable to be able to play music during the day, even a litle loud, EXCEPT if a neighbor has a condition or circumstances that render it harmful, like a night job, such that they need to sleep during the day, or a convalescent who needs sleep all the time.
When I was young and living in apts full of people I'd sometimes take refuge playing harp in the bathroom, lots of good echo, but less easy to play other recorded music with it.
Or step outside and busk!
-Dave Fertig
--- On Tue, 11/22/11, harp-l-...@harp-l.org <harp-l-...@harp-l.org> wrote:
Forwarded Message: [Harp-L] The silent harmonica
Harp-L] The silent harmonica
Tuesday, November 22, 2011 2:34 PM
From:
"martin oldsberg" <martino...@yahoo.com>
To:
"har...@harp-l.org" <har...@harp-l.org>Becuse
lonesomeda...@gmail.com
The upside is that your playing technique, tone and finesse will benefit greatly from having to play really quietly.
Every cloud has a silver lining... :)
Dave Ferguson
www.youtube.com/user/lonesomedaveferguson
Sent from my BlackBerry� wireless device from WIND
Vern
> Becuse of a move to a new apartment I�m faced with a nasty problem: it�s not sound proof here. I�ve been spoiled for many years with blasting away on my harmonica, record player, or various instruments day and night regardless of neighbours. Never had a complaint: either the�ve been deaf, scared of me or just un-disturbed. (Probably the latter, due to a solid house construction.)
>
> Different story now, and I�m not planning to make my next door neighbour an enemy: he seems rather a nice guy, but it�s apparent that he hears too much of me, even in the daytime.
> My only solution so far is playing the music I�m playing along with (that�s my usual way of practicing; also it drowns some of the harmonica shrillness) at a more moderate volume, and wrapping the harp in a T-shirt or something. Awkward. But it still sounds too loud.
Eric Nielsen
expensive to buy, but perhaps you can get some ideas from these links and
try to build your own:
http://www.whisperroom.com/sound-booth-applications-practice.php
http://www.acousticbooth-studiobox.com/application_practice.php
Oh, here's someone with an idea for a cheap do-it-yourselfer.
http://mahatmamusic.com/sound-proof-mini-practice-booth/
I remember someone a while back was working on a practice mute for
harmonica.
It may have even been a school project--if I remember correctly. Give us a
shout if you've had some success.
Eric
On Tue, Nov 22, 2011 at 5:34 PM, martin oldsberg
<martino...@yahoo.com>wrote:
> Becuse of a move to a new apartment I´m faced with a nasty problem: it´s
Buck Worley
Ah yes...the classic tiled shower. One of my favorites. Natural tile reverb!
> Date: Tue, 22 Nov 2011 16:28:47 -0800
> From: drfe...@yahoo.com
> To: har...@harp-l.org
> Subject: [Harp-L] Re: The silent harmonica
>
> Martin,
> When I was young and living in apts full of people I'd sometimes take refuge playing harp in the bathroom, lots of good echo, but less easy to play other recorded music with it.
> -Dave Fertig
Joseph Leone
smo-joe