Re: [Harp-L] bending: beginner to beginner

[Daniel Gage <dan@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Dear List,
   
  I just wanted to add a small comment to Phil's post (below).  I whistle on the inhale quite a bit.  As I was reading the post, I took a second to whistle "in" and it remined me very much of another key aspect of  playing the harmonica.
   
  [Breathe through the harmonica, don't "suck and blow"]
   
  You'll find that it's much easier to whistle "in" with a steady, relaxed air-stream.  
   
  You'll also find that playing the harmonica with good tone (and good bends) require(s) a similar relaxed, steady air-stream.
   
  d.g.

Philharpn@xxxxxxx wrote:
  If you can whistle, you can bend. Bending notes on a harmonica works the same 
way as chaning pitches is whistling -- using the back of the tongue to change 
the size of the opening to change pitch.

With draw bending, try whistling on the inhale (possible, but rarely done). 
Most people can do a weak version of inhale whistling. The point is not to get 
a great whistle but to understand the concept of the technique. All you need 
to do is make enough noise on your inhale whistle to you can tell that you are 
changing pitch.

Failing that, trying saying yeoow on the draw notes you are trying to bend. 
To avoid choking the note (an accidental bend that you DON'T wont) see 
Eeeee on the inhale or exhale.

Remember, as everybody kept saying all week at SPAH--: It's finesse not 
force. You are not trying to suck the reeds out of the harp. Bends take very little 
effort -- if the mouth shape is right. You can play bend very quietly.
Phil Lloyd




In a message dated 8/14/07 9:58:28 PM, IcemanLE@xxxxxxx writes:


> 
> In a message dated 8/14/2007 1:06:51 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, 
> kchance@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx writes:
> 
> I have  recently been able to bend one note - 4 draw. What worked for me
> was moving  my tongue back in my throat, dropping my jaw and sort of
> hollowing out my  cheeks a bit.
> However, I have not had much luck with 2 or 3 draw so far.  When I do the
> same thing, I get just a partial bend and seems like I  sucking a lot of
> air.
> 
> 
> Congrats on your first bend. Hole 4 inhale will give you a bend without a 
> razor sharp focus on correct technique. Hoes 2 and 3 are not so forgiving - 
> mostly because there is a lot more bending area built into those holes. So, 
> you 
> will have to refine your technique - even on hole 4, until you get the
> "essence"  or "sweet spot" in the tongue/throat area where the bends live.
> 
> The Iceman
> 
> 
> 
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