Re: [Harp-L] overblow begginner question



"Tim Moyer" <wmharps@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote
on Thu, 28 Apr 2005 18:45:00 -0000:
>
> Subject: Re: Re: [Harp-L] overblow begginner question
>
> Richard Lister wrote:
> > So what can you do?
> > 1. Buy a custom harp set up for overblows. 
> <snip>
> 2. Set up a harp yourself. 
> <snip>
> 3. Block the blow reed. 
> <snip>
> 
> If you are an overblow beginner, I suggest approach number 2 above.  
> When you're first learning to overblow the gaps of your harp may be 
> quite a bit lower than an optimum gap for normal playing.  Once you 
> get the feel of starting and holding (and manipulating) an overblow 
> bend, you'll find that you can increase the gaps significantly and 
> still hit the overblows reliably.  

I agree. Get those gaps really low to learn to get the OBs, then
bring them up a little at a time.


> I don't recommend blocking the reed as a method to learn how to 
> overblow, since a large part of the challenge is getting the blow 
> reed to choke, and that action is not needed if you're blocking it 
> by hand.

Well, I agree and disagree.

There are two parts to an overblow:

1. choke the blow reed
2. get the draw reed to sound while blowing

To do a complete overblow these two skills must be combined.
Before combining them it makes sense to learn them individually.

The frustrating part of learning this is to be huffing and puffing
on the reed and no sound is coming out, and you have no idea whether
you're even close, or whether it is even possible on this harp.


> It works if you just want to hear what an overblow sounds 
> like, or to prove to yourself that it's possible.  

And that's the key. If you can make that first squeaky OB sound,
through whatever means, you have shown yourself that you at least
have the resonance right to sound the draw reed. It's positive
feedback.

Personally I would recommend the following steps:

1. block the blow reed and learn to get the draw to sound while
   blowing; check the note with a tuner to make sure you're in the
   ballpark ... you'll be a fair bit flat at this point

2. gap the blow reed completely closed, and see if you can still get
   the draw to sound

3. bring up the gap on the blow a little at a time, at some point it
   will be trying to sound and you'll need to learn how to choke it;
   eventually you'll get the gap up to a point where the harp is
   usable again :-)

4. now the fun part: learn to bend the OB up into tune and to play it
   without a delay: still working on these :-)


This is just my experience. Tim makes really nice harps and I would
listen closely to anything he has to say!


Cheers
Ric





This archive was generated by a fusion of Pipermail 0.09 (Mailman edition) and MHonArc 2.6.8.