Re: help guys!

[Kevin Patrick <kpatrick@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi Gang,

If you will recall, I introduced myself a while back as a beginner.  
Since I have been lurking in this group, I have noticed a number of issues 
with beginners that don't seem to be covered in the literature 
accompanying new harmonicas.  The situation below is one example.  As such 
I wanted to throw this recommendation out to he group, because I am not 
sure if it is one I should be making privately to other newbies:  i.e., I 
am unsure of this gentleman's credentials with the experts.  For what ever 
reason, I was attracted to the harp, so I decided to go the "cheapo" route 
and purchase the "Country & Blues Harmonica for the Musically Hopeless" 
book by Jon Gindick, cassette, and harmonica package (Klutz Press, 2121 
Staunton Ct., Palo Alto, CA 94306, 415-424-0739).  The book is humorous and 
informative.  For example, these lines were interesting in light of recent 
conversations on this list:

"Be aware, too, that a couple of notes, 2 draw and 3 draw especially, are 
tricky to play on any harp."

"Playing With Singers.  As a harp player, you should not play continuously.  
Far better to phrase your riffs, weave them in and out....Don't play over 
them."

Some chapters include:  Straight Harp; The Rich Clear, Single Note; The 
Soul of the Harmonica (hand placement, use of tongue); Cross Harp; 
Bending; Taking Your Act on the Road; Musical Theory for the Musically 
Hopeless; Advanced Straight Harp; The Higher Notes.

I found it to be a nice, friendly, and informative starting point for 
people at ground zero.  I do not know Mr. Gindick, nor am I affiliated 
with Klutz (although, my wife might say that I was a klutz ;-).  Just to be 
sure, is this an acceptable recommendation for newbies?

Kevin

On Sun, 18 Sep 1994 G.Jackson@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx wrote:

> > 
> > hello..
> > I need some help badly...
> > the new marine band i bought...
> > it didn't sound right on the second draw.
> > the G sounds very muffled (almost like playing your harp 
> > under a blanket)
> 
> 	This is a problem with *ALL* second position notes on EVERY harp.
> The wierd thing is, it is to do with breathing control, not the reeds.
> Get a harp which you have not tried ro *repair* :-) i.e. a new one.
> 
> 	Now try this: draw on hole two with air coming in from your nose
> AT THE SAME TIME. It should sound much better.
> You can play all the rest of the notes *almost* any old way, but hole two
> is less forgiving.
> 
> 	The bottom line really is that you need far less ait than you think
> to produce a good tone (as a rule).
> 
> 
> ...so, i took it apart (thanks to modular components) and tried tweaking
> the reed. 
> 
> 	Bad move, see above. It's a shame that harps are not sold with
> a warning about this problem at least. Just about every new player
> has the same trouble.
> 
> The harp looks like a simple beast at first, so folk don't think they need
> a book on how to.... Shame.
> 
> 
> I was inexperienced and
> > "overbent" the reeds...i quickly bent them back to normal. Itired
> > my best but the draw note still sounds weak. I don't remember it
> > sounding like this when i frist bought it (yesterday!) but i don't
> > really remember anyway. 
> 
> 	As you now know, GENTLY does it with reed work. Get the Steve Baker
> how to book for the harp, and read it through before any more tweeking.
> 
> 	You probably were just busy playing around in a general way at
> first. As suck you would not be looking for what the tones of different
> reeds sounded like in relation to each other.
> 
> I need some tips on finetuning of harps...
> > urgently!!! please reply to by email rather than to the group (I
> > am subscribed to the digest, so it might take some time).
> > 
> > a side note here...i managed to bent the second draw (despite the
> > weak sound) and also the third draw...  :)  (  a :( for the weird
> > second draw reed).
> >
> 
> 	Well it *is* the hardest note to bend, and harder on some keys
> of harp then others. I STILL cannot bend that one one some harps, but then,
> I don't need it in my style of music very much.
> 
> 	By the way, I am less qualifieed to talk about this aspect of the
> harp than many others here. Feel free to correct or enlarge on what I said.
> 
> Good luck
> Gordon 
> 
>