Re: Funny thing about learning bends...

[Pierre <slavio@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Keith,

I think its because the water is blocking the blow holes.

You can tape a piece of milar over a diatonic blow read plate, that will
block all holes and achieve a similar effect. This may help you find the
sweet spot. Don't draw too hard though as bends will be much easier.

Pierre.


- ----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Keith Freeman" <keith.freeman@xxxxxxxxxx>
To: <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Sunday, March 14, 2004 8:30 AM
Subject: Funny thing about learning bends...


>
> Hi Russ,
> > Soaking diatonics used to be a fairly widespread practice for people
> > into blues harp.
> > water (or vodka) caused the wooden comb to swell, making the harp more
> > airtight, thus requiring less wind for volume, making bends easier,
> > etc.
> That's interesting. I've read that bends are easier, the more airtight the
harp is, but in
> this case it's a plastic comb, so the comb swelling can't be the cause. I
wonder if the
> water is making something more airtight (perhaps the mouthpiece?) or
whether it's the
> water in the channel that's making bending easier (if so, how?) or water
actually on the
> reed (ditto?).
>
> -Keith Freeman
>
> --
> Harp-l is sponsored by SPAH, http://www.spah.org
> Hosted by ValuePricehosting.com, http://www.valuepricehosting.com