Re: [Harp-L] Holding the XB-40

[Richard Hammersley <rhhammersley@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I have been playing normal sized diatonics for 30 years and bought an  
XB-40 a couple of years ago. I too found it hard to hold at first (as  
I did the big 12 hole Marine Band). Don't obsess with the "airtight  
hand cup". A partial cup over the bottom (or top) of a bigger harp  
works too and fewer tonal effects come from that cup than you think. I  
spent a period practicing without cupping at all, to see what tones I  
could get out of a harp. Also, look at youtube video of Sonny Boy  
Williamson and Sonny Terry (to name just two) who clearly violate all  
"airtight cup" rules most of the time, to great effect.

Besides, the cupping of your hands cannot really be "airtight" or no  
air would flow through the harp :)

On 4 Aug 2008, at 10:47, Anders Nygaard wrote:

> Hi all, I find it very difficult to hold the XB-40 correctly, to  
> create the
> airtight cup behind it. Works great for my smaller 10-holes, but on  
> the
> XB-40 the sound is not good and the hand effects are weak. I believe  
> my
> hands are normal size. Can anyone here help. I have only been  
> playing for a
> six months, using the instructions on harmonicalessons.com, so it  
> may be a
> simple solution that I overlooked. I normally play the Hohner Golden  
> Melody,
> but find it easier to practise lip blocking on the XB-40.
>
> P.S. I bought the XB-40 before I really knew anything about harps,  
> but it is
> great for training and confidence. When I am getting tired of  
> failing bends
> on the Hohner, I switch to the XB and everything works. Nice.
>
> Smile
>
> /Andy
> _______________________________________________
> Harp-L is sponsored by SPAH, http://www.spah.org
> Harp-L@xxxxxxxxxx
> http://harp-l.org/mailman/listinfo/harp-l

Richard Hammersley
Grantshouse, Scottish Borders
http://www.last.fm/music/Richard+Hammersley
http://www.myspace.com/rhammersley
http://www.myspace.com/magpiesittingdown