Re: Re: [Harp-L] still learning to overblow...



MARVIN Fleischman wrote:
> Yes, what is the "closing reed"? Is it a particular reed and if 
> so, which one?

On a diatonic harmonica, the blow reeds are generally mounted on the 
inside of the (upper) plate, while the draw reeds are mounted on the 
outside of th e(lower) plate.  When you BLOW air through any 
particular hole, the blow reeds "close" or move closer to the plate 
and through the reed slot, while the draw reeds open, or move away 
from the plate.  Of course, when you DRAW air through any hole, the 
draw reeds close toward the plate and through the slot, while the 
blow reeds open away from the plate.  

Generally, it's the closing reeds that sound, but in an overblow on 
holes 1 - 6 the technique is to blow so as to "choke" the closing 
blow reed and allow the opening draw reed to sound instead.  On 
overdraws of 7 - 10, the the technique is to draw so as to choke the 
closing draw reed and allow the opening blow read to sound instead.  

In the case of the use of nail polish or beeswax at the rivet end of 
the reed or turbo tape to prevent squealing, it is used most 
effectively on the closing reed, which would be 1 - 6 blow and 7 - 
10 draw.  

In my personal experience, nail polish is a lot of work because it 
causes pitch changes that vary over time.  You have to allow the 
polish to cure completely, then make sure you exercise the reed 
extensively before doing the final tuning.  The cured polish 
initially causes the reed to rise significantly in pitch, and it 
then falls again as the reed is exercised.  This is particularly 
challenging on higher pitched reeds.  Turbo tape might cause an 
initial pitch change when it's applied, but it tends to be more 
stable over time.  That said, on my own Asian harps I do both.  

-tim







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