Re: [Harp-L] Re: Creating solid notes through bending techniques

[Winslow Yerxa <winslowyerxa@xxxxxxxxx>]

I have to agree with the Iceman that the throat does not really take part in bending notes.

I did very careful self-observation when writing the bending chapters for Harmonica For Dummies. I found that what seemed like the throat was in fact the very back of the soft palate (the waggy bit at the back of the roof of the mouth) interacting with the deeper recesses of the tongue.

The only other place nearby that you can use to constrict the airflow is your glottis - the little gateway of the vocal folds that can vibrate to make voice sounds or close off to cough. I seriously doubt that anyone uses the vocal folds to bend notes. (I could be wrong, and if I were, it would be very intersting, but I don't think I am.)

The soft papate and tongue can close off very near to the glottis, just above it (or so it feels). I can see how easly it would be to assume that this was the throat doing the work. But rty bending a note "in the throat" and then coughing lightly. The cough will be a little deeper down the windpipe than the bending spot.

Winslow

Winslow Yerxa
Author, Harmonica For Dummies ISBN 978-0-470-33729-5


--- On Mon, 10/6/08, IcemanLE@xxxxxxx <IcemanLE@xxxxxxx> wrote:

> From: IcemanLE@xxxxxxx <IcemanLE@xxxxxxx>
> Subject: [Harp-L] Re: Creating solid notes through bending techniques
> To: hvyj@xxxxxxx
> Cc: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
> Date: Monday, October 6, 2008, 6:52 AM
> It's possible that you misinterpreted the movement of
> the tongue as some  
> kind of throat control. Remember, the tongue is a very long
> and extends  down the 
> throat.
>  
> The tongue is the miracle muscle - it is capable of so many
> twists and  turns 
> in so many directions at once. The front of the tongue can
> be down and  
> relaxed while the back can be in motion. One can hold a
> solid bend in place by  
> arching the "sweet spot" up at the back section
> while using the tip to  
> articulate a sharp "T" attack to the note created
> through this bend  technique.
>  
>  
> In a message dated 10/4/2008 9:53:32 P.M. Eastern Daylight
> Time,  
> hvyj@xxxxxxx writes:
> 
> , I  suspect that what i think i am doing with my
> "throat' my  
> actually be  a movement at the root of my tongue that is so
> deep/far  
> back   in my mouth that it feels like i am doing it with my
> throat.  
> So,  maybe I'm actually bending with a slight arching
> movement at the   
> very root of my tongue that feels to me like it is
> happening in my   
> throat.
> 
> 
> 
> 
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