Re: 3 Draw Bent Down -- Help?

[HAAndruss@xxxxxxx (Harvey Andruss)]

Both Mike C's give good advice.  Two other suggestions to develop control:

One issue would be to consider which key harmonica you are using, F usually
the highest pitch (F# and high G are usu. special order), G usually being
the lowest (low D thru F also spec. order, and there are low C marine bands
and fjm made an low A custom for Jack Ely). Each 3 hole draw combination of
notes (4 total -- 3 bent and one not) requires a different position of the
tongue in the mouth, lower means deeper back in the mouth, sometimes minute
amounts.  You may consider getting a higher harp or a lower harp than what
you have now and working with the one that is most easiest to control, then
consider replicating on the other harp(s).

Another issue would be to dissect the problem by practicing ascending and
descending chromatic scales, as mjcarely suggested using with a chromatic
tuner with a microphone to check intonation, or with a keyboard/stringed
instrument -- try to hit each note with proper intonation and control.
Also, mixing up different combinations of notes would be the next step, eg.
on a C harp, practice not only B,Bb,A,Ab,A,Bb,B (3D, 3Db, 3Dbb, 3Dbbb,
3Dbb, 3Db, 3D  -- the ~b~ means flatten by a semitone) -- but
B,A,Bb,Ab,Bb,A,B (3D, 3Dbb, 3Db, 3Dbbb, 3Db, 3Dbb, 3D).  Then do your own
permutations (eg, start with one of the bent draw notes, add the other
holes w/ & w/o bends).

BTW, you may have noticed that the same can be done on the 2 hole draw with
the notes F, Gb, G.

This is a FAQ (included, coming soon) and the archives also have a lot more
on this.  If you can, start by searching ~bend~, ~bending~ etc.  And then
there's ~tongue blocked~ bends and ~valved~ bends....Enjoy.       dB-)