Re: [Harp-L] Overblow C sharp challenge

["michael rubin" <michaelrubinharmonica@xxxxxxxxx>]

Hey, Brad's mention of me is because he takes lessons and he overblows
in the lessons.  He certainly has not damaged me, instead he has
inspired me with his determination and quick improvement in his
overblows.  Look out for Brad, he is a bad boy on that harp!
Michael Rubin
Michaelrubinharmonica.com

On 12/18/08, Bradford Trainham <bradford.trainham@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> Hi,
> An alternative approach... Which won't make you/me feel quite so inadequate
> is to move through positions slowly until you find situations wherein you
> need to use the over-blows.
> For instance, on a c harp, obviously, you'll not have much use for them in
> first position.
> In second position, you can use the five over-blow to get the f-sharp in a g
> major scale.
> While this approach won't "blow you away" the same way as some of the songs
> others have mentioned in answer to your question, it's more immediately
> attainable and you won't feel like you're climbing up a thousand-mile wall.
> At this point in my own journey, I'm often comfortable enough with the six
> over-blow to play that with other people in the room... (other than Michael
> Rubin whose psycho-aural center I've probably damaged forever!!)
> The five over-blow is, for me, less reliable but slowly getting better.  The
> four, we have to work on... But I'm certainly further than I was this time
> last year when I couldn't even get that telltale squawk suggesting a blow
> reed and a draw reed were in contention for the same note.
> And, as has often been said, if you have the opportunity, try a harp that
> has been set up for over-blowing as that seems to make the concept align
> with muscle memory and then to become transferable to more chalenging harps.
> (I hope you know what I meant by any of that.  This is some good coffee!!)
> Good luck!
> Brad Trainham
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: harp-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx [mailto:harp-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf
> Of Richard Hammersley
> Sent: Wednesday, December 17, 2008 1:31 PM
> To: Harp L Harp L
> Subject: [Harp-L] Overblow C sharp challenge
>
> Day 3, still wrestling with learning overblows - feels like when I could not
> form separate notes on the harmonica. But I am sure it will come. Keen types
> say they play in all keys on a single harp. Can anyone point me to a
> recorded example of somebody playing in C sharp on a C harp (or similar  +
> one semitone in another key) in a coherent way? Even a fast scale would
> inspire me!! Someone must have done this, even just out of contrariness.
>
> Richard
> Richard Hammersley
> Grantshouse, Scottish Borders
> http://www.last.fm/music/Richard+Hammersley
> http://www.myspace.com/rhammersley
> http://www.myspace.com/magpiesittingdown
>
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Harp-L is sponsored by SPAH, http://www.spah.org Harp-L@xxxxxxxxxx
> http://harp-l.org/mailman/listinfo/harp-l
>
> _______________________________________________
> Harp-L is sponsored by SPAH, http://www.spah.org
> Harp-L@xxxxxxxxxx
> http://harp-l.org/mailman/listinfo/harp-l
>