Re: [Harp-L] right hand vs left

[Pic2318834@xxxxxxx]

I being left handed hold the harp in my right.  I find cupping no  problem on 
the low notes and get good tone.  You just have to move the harp  quickly to 
cup the upper register.  I do have a problem holding the harp in  my right 
hand and getting a good seal while using a mic.  I do have small  hands though.  
I tried changing to left hand hold but it seems  awkward.  I don't think it 
matters much at all.
 
Pic
 
 
In a message dated 5/16/2008 2:28:51 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,  
dan@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx writes:

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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