Re: [Harp-L] Progression

[Winslow Yerxa <winslowyerxa@xxxxxxxxx>]

I'm doubtful that the air direction has much to do with how good the note sounds.

Your body acts as a resonating chamber regardless of air direction.
 Every time the reed chops through the slot in the reed plate, it 
interrupts the air flow and sends a little shock wave back into the air 
stream. This happens regardless of which direction the air moves in.

The real reason that Draw 2 sounds different from Blow 3 is that Draw 2 is the high note in its hole, and therefore bendable - it pulls the Blow 2 into sympathetic vibration. Blow 3, on the other hand, is the low note in its hole and doesn't bend down.

If Blow 3 were bendable, it would sound as full as Draw 2. You can make this happen by valving the draw slot in Hole 3. Also, compare the blow notes and the draw notes in Holes 7-10. In that range, the blow notes are bendable ones, and also the notes that tend to sound fuller.

Winslow

 
Winslow Yerxa
Author, Harmonica For Dummies, ISBN 978-0-470-33729-5
            Harmonica Basics For Dummies, ASIN B005KIYPFS
            Blues Harmonica For Dummies, ISBN 978-1-1182-5269-7
Resident Harmonica Expert, bluesharmonica.com
Instructor, Jazzschool for Music Study and Performance


________________________________
 From: Eric Miller <miller.eric.t@xxxxxxxxx>
To: Tony Stephens <tnysteph@xxxxxxxxx> 
Cc: Harp-L <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx> 
Sent: Sunday, October 6, 2013 6:53 PM
Subject: Re: [Harp-L] Progression
 

HI Tony-

Do a little experiment:

Grab your C harp and play a 2D.  Make it as full and as nice as you are
able...try to "tune" your mouth, throat, lungs, and diaphragm to make it as
rich as you can.

Now do the same with the 3B.  Make it as full and rich as you can.

Hear the difference?  This is because on the draw, you are exercising your
body's ability to act as a resonating chamber (like the body of an acoustic
guitar, or a violin).  Sound travels on air, and if the air is *exiting *your
body...then there is substantially less opportunity for this resonant magic
to happen.  It's still there, but to a lesser degree on blow notes than
draw notes.