Re: [Harp-L] Overblow intonation

["Chris Michalek" <Chris@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Try focusing on the actual pitch of the note rather than the
mechanical technique.  Let your ear guide you. As for me, I'm not
sure I actually hit anything in tune.  I mostly use my vibrato to
cover things up....that makes things tons easier and nobody knows and
better  :-)


>
>
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>---- Original Message ----
>From: alec@xxxxxxxxxxxx
>To: bon@xxxxxxxxxx, harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
>Subject: Re: [Harp-L] Overblow intonation
>Date: Wed, 16 Mar 2005 08:45:52 -0500
>
>>
>>That's the real trick with overblows - trying to get them 
>>in tune. For most players, the overblow naturally pops in 
>>quite a bit flat and then you have to humor it up. I can 
>>play a 6 hole overblow and then bend it up in pitch a full 
>>semitone (maybe a bit more on a really well gapped harp). 
>>I still struggle a bit at times to nail the overblow spot 
>>on without having to slide into it, but I'm getting better 
>>at it all the time and probably hit them in tune more 
>>often then not, now. There are others who are much better 
>>at this, though. Chris Michalek, Rosco, and Allen Holmes, 
>>to name a few, can bend overblows up several semitones, 
>>and can hit them spot on most of the time. Of course, 
>>Howard Levy is not too shabby, either.
>>
>>Overblowing techinique has come a long way in the past 
>>several years. It's been my experience that on the rare 
>>occasion that you hear a sour note by one of these elite 
>>players, it is usually a standard bend (like a 3 draw 
>>whole step bend) and that these guys tend to play 
>>overblows in tune (or perhaps slightly sharp).
>>
>>Afterall, better sharp than out of tune, right?
>>
>>Alec
>>
>>P.S. - a good way to practice bending overblows up is with 
>>the coverplates off pressing on the blow reed with your 
>>finger.
>>
>>On Tue, 15 Mar 2005 21:38:42 -0500
>>
>>
>>> 
>>> But during the preconcert talk, got a question about if 
>>>I play diatonic with overblows and what I thought about 
>>>it.  I said that I was unable to play the overblows in 
>>>tune and therefore found the diatonic not appropriate for 
>>>the concerti I play since intonation is such a big part 
>>>of classical music.  Also, I mentioned that the concerti 
>>>I play were written for chromatic which makes them 
>>>unplayable on the diatonic.
>>> 
>>> The best I can do on say a hole 6 blow bend if the harp 
>>>is tuned to 442 is about 430 calibrated.  That makes the 
>>>note so flat as to be unacceptable in the classical 
>>>context.  Now I don't know about jazz, but in classical 
>>>music if you play that flat it sounds like a clam.  Is 
>>>there any way to blow this in tune, because I sure can't?
>>> 
>>> Harmonically yours,
>>> 
>>> Robert Bonfiglio
>>> 
>>> 
>>> _______________________________________________
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>>
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>>

Chris Michalek

www.michalekstrone.com
CD Available
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/michalekstrone