Re: [Harp-L] Hohner new harp - XB-40 observations and examples

[Richard Hammersley <rhhammersley@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi Ron
I am assuming you can do bends on a standard diatonic? I am surprised  
you are having problems, it just made bending easier for me and I went  
from there. The standard techniques listed on the various harmonica  
websites do the trick.

I am still working on technique. I use bends mostly for ornamentation  
rather than to play chromatically. I can get all the standard bent  
notes draw bends holes 1-4, 6 and blow 8-10. Also, I can get blow  
bends on holes 1-4. Can drop a semi-tone and hit a relatively stable  
note. I can get hole 1 down a tone but it is not stable. It also seems  
possible to bend most of the other notes a little bit - but not a  
whole semi-tone. The exception is draw 7, cos the two reeds are only a  
semi-tone apart. I can lower draw 5 a little bit.

If anyone can explain how the blow reeds and valving interact to lower  
blow notes on holes 1-4, well that has been bothering me.

If you want all the notes via bending then XB-40 is for you.



On 27 Mar 2009, at 15:54, rgwebber@xxxxxxx wrote:

> Richard,
>
> I have an MR-350V in G.  I haven't been able to get the valve  
> feature to work effectively.  Can you give me an example of how it  
> should work?  (cite one hole, the non-bent note, then the bent note  
> using the valve feature?)
>
> I would appreciate it. Also any tips on how to get the bends to  
> work.  I can do all the normal draw & blow bends on a standard  
> diatonic.
>
> Thanks,
> Ron
> -------------- Original message from Richard Hammersley <rhhammersley@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx 
> >: --------------
>
>
> > Put me down on the I like XB-40s side. I am not a particularly
> > technically skilled player and it did take a couple of months to get
> > used to the 1st one. However, I like the Suzuki MR350-v harmonicas
> > even more because they are smaller and, to me, feel more  
> responsive on
> > the bends. In terms of tone, I tried recording XB-40, Suzuki MR350-v
> > and 2 'normal' diatonics in C - Lee Oskar and old marine band. I
> > deliberately didn't use bends. It is not easy to hear the difference
> > between them, even thought they feel very different and sound
> > different as you play them - see resolved debate on comb materials  
> and
> > apologies in advance should it float back to the top!
> >
> > In fact I like these valved harmonicas so much that I do not play
> > anything else much.
> >
> > Richard
> > >
> > >
> >
> > Richard Hammersley
> > Grantshouse, Scottish Borders
> > http://www.last.fm/music/Richard+Hammersley
> > http://www.myspace.com/rhammersley
> > http://www.myspace.com/magpiesittingdown
> >
> >
> >
> >
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Richard Hammersley
Grantshouse, Scottish Borders
http://www.last.fm/music/Richard+Hammersley
http://www.myspace.com/rhammersley
http://www.myspace.com/magpiesittingdown