Re: [Harp-L] 9 and 10 blow out

["Bob Maglinte" <bbqbob917@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Russ Bradley" <wbradley@xxxxxxxxxx>
To: "Bill Hines" <billhines4@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Cc: <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>; <TomEHarp@xxxxxxx>
Sent: Wednesday, March 30, 2005 10:15 AM
Subject: Re: [Harp-L] 9 and 10 blow out


> Two things:
> 1 - Marine Bands need breaking in.  The reeds on Marine Bands are somewhat 
> stiff when new.  A Marine band doesn't achieve its full potential until 
> after it's been broken in.  Start off playing them very lightly, just 
> scales or something, and gradually increase the air column you are pulling 
> through.  After a little bit of this, the reeds start becoming more 
> responsive.
>
> 2 - You need to use a MUCH lighter touch at the higher end of a diatonic. 
> You can't attack the 9/10 the same way you attack the 1/2.  You can work 
> on that while you are breaking in the Marine Band.  As you draw harder and 
> harder on the Marine Band, notice that as the air column gets stronger, 
> there is a point where the 9/10 become less responsive.
>
> Hope this helps,
> Russ

Hi,
I have to agree with Russ here on both counts. When playing holes 7-10 and 
trying to do blow note bends, it's actually the draw reeds doing the actual 
bending and the ears picks up the sound split seconds later, from holes 1-6, 
it's the exact opposite. There may be some regapping needed, but the vast 
majority of players problems more often than not comes from playing the 
instruments way too hard all the time, or better said as excessive breath 
force, ESPECIALLY in the note bending process, and much less from any real 
or percieved defects caused by the instrument itself. Your tone will, in 
addition improve ten fold, and then in return comes the economic benefits 
come in by blowing out far fewer harps. Unfortunately, too many players 
don't heed that advice.

Sincerely,
Barbeque Bob Maglinte
Boston, MA
http://www.barbequebob.com
MP3's: http://music.mp3lizard.com/barbequebob/