Re: [Harp-L] bending: beginner to beginner

[Larry Marks <larry.marks@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Karen,

You are getting lots of advice, so I'll add my 2 cents to make sure 
you're totally confused:

1. With a harmonica, everything happens because of changes in the oral 
cavity. Others before me have written about their particular ways of 
shaping various mouth parts in order to bend. They are giving you good 
advice.

By the way, the greatest impact on the tone you get also comes from the 
shape of the mouth, not the microphone or the amp. Play a lot with 
various ways of shaping the oral cavity and the tongue. Since mouth 
shape reflects primarily the vowels, think of various ways of 
pronouncing vowels and try those with your harmonica. (If you know the 
French/Dutch U, you will find it very useful as well.)

2.  Once you learn how to bend, learn to use your tongue to stop and 
start the flow of air so as to get a clean note. Unless you mean to 
smear your notes (sliding up from the bent note to the unbent note), you 
will need to use your tongue to make a start and an end to each note. If 
you want to slur your notes (two or more notes just a little 
separation), you should let the back of your tongue just slightly 
interrupt the flow of air as you move from bent note to unbent note. If 
you want two completely separate notes, then let the tongue interrupt 
the air flow completely for a short time (legato note) or a longer time 
(staccato note).

3. Relax and play with the minimum air you need to make a note. I can 
bend notes, overblow or blow-bend playing very softly and with very 
little air. The point is that you can't force a bend by blowing or 
drawing harder. I play into my mike very softly because my notes sound 
better and I can more readily control my instrument. I let my Baseman 
4-10 do my talking for me.

4. It takes a while, so stay with it. You will be rewarded with the 
ability to sound good on the sweetest instrument around...


Good luck,

Larry Marks