Other web Sites
Harmonica Blues  Harmonica Amps
Harmonica Links Harmonica Pages
• Archives Home
• Years
 · 1992
 · 1993
 · 1994
 · 1995
 · 1996
 · 1997 		 · 1998
 · 1999
 · 2000
 · 2001
 · 2002
 · 2003
 
Web HarpL
Ebay Searches:
Amps:
Microphones:
Effects:
Harmonicas and Gear:
Harmonica Music and Instruction:

 

 

Harp-L Archives

[Previous Message] [Next Message]
[Previous in Thread]
[Start of Thread] [End of Thread]

From: Winslow Yerxa <76450.32~ompuServe.COM>
Date: 14 Jun 97 19:23:57 EDT
Subject: Hi everyone..

TO: internet:harp~arply.com

Christian Dechery writes

>and I noticed that in each and everyone of them there seem to have some
>holes that don't sound OK... and some don't sound at all (like the 7 hole
>drawing in the Marine Band)... and I don't know if this is caused by lack
>of technique, or there's some problem with the harp(s).. guess that's
>enough for one 1st mail... Cya!

And Tom Greer replies:

>Hello, Christian! Yep, there are some tough holes. 7-draw is a tough one, so
>is 2-draw. 9-blow is very difficult. Chances are pretty good your harps are
>fine. When working the high end of the harp, you really have to play "from
>the head". You still form a deep pucker, jam the harm in nearly to your
>teeth, and blow/draw... but arch your eyebrows way up, fill the top of your
>chest with air (puff it way out!), crinkle your forehead, and play a slow,
>soft, steady stream of air. If nothing sounds, don't stop the airflow, but
>slowly adjust the angle of the harmonica. A little up, a little down, until
>the note sounds. Draw notes are basically the same on the high end. The key
>is to become very aware of your forehead. Hey, I even got frustrated, and
>stuck a red sticker in the middle of my forehead! That was my "target".
>That's were I was trying to aim the air when I pulled it in. Stupid? Yeah...
>but it helped!
>
>I still have problems with 7-draw. Your technique has to be just right.

I dunno, guys. This sounds like WAY too much work on things that
really have nothing to do with breathing into a harmonica. It may
work for you, but I'm inclined to believe it works for the same
reason that hopping up and down three times, reciting a poem,
groaning loudly, then dialing the telephone will make a telephone
connection.

Tom says:

You still form a deep pucker, jam the harm in nearly to
your >teeth, and blow/draw... but arch your eyebrows way
up, fill the top of your >chest with air (puff it way
out!), crinkle your forehead,

In other words, hop up and down, recite the poem, and groan
loudly, then

and play a slow, soft, steady stream of air.

In other words, dial the phone.

Now, let's say you put one of those harps on a harmonica tester -
the little hand-pumped bellows in the music store, and the notes
in question sounded. Did the bellows do all the stuff that Tom
describes? No. But it also didn't do something else, and that's
very important. It didn't scrunch its mouth up or put its tongue
in the way ot close up its throat. It didn't block or impede the
airflow. It delivered a soft, steady stream of air.

In other words, relax your throat - try yawning. Relax your neck
and shoulders and chest. Relax your tongue. Let it lie like a
blanket on the floor of your mouth (assuming you're puckering).
Relax your jaw. Relax your lips. Now lift the harmonica to your
lips, and press it lightly to them, just enough so that your lips
receive the harp like a deep cushion, and form a seal so that no
air can escape. But don't let the lips block the hole.

Now, breathe slowly, softly, steadily. The note should sound.
This should work for any note on the harmonica. If it doesn't,
then you're probably doing something to impede the airflow, and
you need to check all the body parts I mentioned, and make sure
they're relaxed.

Winslow Yerxa
Harmonica Information Press
Z