Re: [Harp-L] right hand vs left

[Daniel Gage <dan@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

John and List,
   
  I'm a TB'er and a puckerer, and I don't agree with Mr. Gowland.
   
  I don't think there should be any strong correlation between shake technique and handedness.  I hold left, and do both hand and head shakes (not a good idea to shake ones head while driving eh?)
   
  Historically, within the blues community, players are told to shake their heads, because that's what either Muddy said, or Walter did. If you think about it, it's what 90% of the old blues guys did/do. 
   
   Acknowledging that fact, I still believe that head vs. hand shaking is a choice one makes, not a result of being left or right handed.  One can train ones self to shake the hands, the head, or to perform the shake with the tongue.  
   
  Though the correlation between shakes and handedness has been offered, and I disagree, I'm going to assume the thread started on a general discussion of handedness.  If I missed the point, I apologize.
   
  I think that holding the harp, in general, has to do with handedness
   
  I have heard arguments that having the lower notes closer to the cup of the hand (away from the fingers) provides a better, deeper-sounding resonant chamber, since much of the blues-style playing often stays between holes 1-6.  I haven't really tested the theory though.  Just something I've heard a few times.
   
  In my experience, the players I've encountered who have held in the right hand (only a 1 or two guys) also play with the harp upside down (numbers down).  They would benefit from the same tonal advantage (assuming the advantage is real) that I mentioned above.
   
  I'll also add my own theory of why it may be better for a right-handed person to hold the harp in the left hand.  Since hand motion can create so much sound variation, it stands to reason to use ones "better" hand.   I like to keep the less coordinated hand still, and shape, wave, flutter, and cup my strong hand.
   
  Dan G.
  

John Thaden <jjthaden@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
  Well, I'm a u-blocker, but I don't follow what you
are saying here about u-blocking and harmonica/head weights.
Can you clarify?

Mox GOWLAND wrote: > one technique that comes to mind is the shake
> i.e. rapidly passing backwards & forwards between 
> 2 adjacent holes
> In general, a right handed player
> holding the harmonica in the left hand,
> "shakes" his/her head
> whereas when held in the right hand
> he/she/it "shakes" the harmonica.

> Other considerations

> Playing with a microphone on a stand

> or, for all the U-blockers out there
> The ratio between the weight of the 
> harmonica & the weight of the head

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