Re: [Harp-L] RE: MIC HOLDING

[icemanle@xxxxxxx]

In my case, right hand grip was what seemed natural to me 30 years ago - at that time, there was not much info/education re:harmonica playing, so there was no reason given to me to develop w/left hand. Now that teachers have gotten closer to defining the essence of tone by technique, one learning may have a head start in whatever direction they wish to develop.


So someone who might not have formed a hand preference might use left had for
both the tight, tone-driven blues grip and a looser, less seal-driven sound. Or
use the right hand to keep the two approaches clearly separated.




-----Original Message-----
From: Winslow Yerxa <winslowyerxa@xxxxxxxxx>
To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Mon, 18 May 2009 6:12 pm
Subject: Re: [Harp-L] RE: MIC HOLDING








OK, so the blues grip is driven first by sealing the harp and mic off from the
surrounding air, and an important part of that is the need to seal high register
holes against the cheek. And if you hold the harp right side up, then it's the
right cheek, and holding the harp and mic in the left hand achieves this without
interfering with the harp-to-cheek seal.

So someone who might not have formed a hand preference might use left had for
both the tight, tone-driven blues grip and a looser, less seal-driven sound. Or
use the right hand to keep the two approaches clearly separated.

Winslow

Winslow Yerxa

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

--- On Mon, 5/18/09, icemanle@xxxxxxx <icemanle@xxxxxxx> wrot
e:

From: icemanle@xxxxxxx <icemanle@xxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: [Harp-L] RE: MIC HOLDING
To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
Date: Monday, May 18, 2009, 2:52 PM

Tight cup, harmonica against cheek = Âblues style/tone
Regular grip, relaxed and open = musical linear style - note tone driven



When I learned from Joe Filisko the optimum mic grip, (including upper register
pressed against cheek), it necessitated left hand holding harmonica. Up till
this point, I always used a loose right handed grip.

-----Original Message-----
From: Winslow Yerxa <winslowyerxa@xxxxxxxxx>
To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx; icemanle@xxxxxxx
Sent: Mon, 18 May 2009 4:00 pm
Subject: Re: [Harp-L] RE: MIC HOLDING











OK, so the question goes begging - why different holding hands for different mic
techniques?

Winslow Yerxa

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

--- On Mon, 5/18/09, icemanle@xxxxxxx <icemanle@xxxxxxx> wrote:


From: icemanle@xxxxxxx <icemanle@xxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: [Harp-L] RE: MIC HOLDING
To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
Date: Monday, May 18, 2009, 12:46 PM


My solution was to learn two mic holding techniques - one for tight cupping
blues style and the other for all the rest. Cupping I hold the harmonica in my
left hand, the rest I hold it in my right hand. Took me a while to learn them
both, but it comes in handy.


-----Original Message-----
From: Bill Kumpe <bkumpe@xxxxxxx>
To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
Sent:
 Mon, 18 May 2009 11:17 am
Subject: [Harp-L] RE: MIC HOLDING








RE: Mic Holding

I have the sam
e problem. It is always a trade off. On the one hand, I can
get a much fatter tone by cupping the mic close, etc. But, on the other
h
and, I am clumsy holding the mic and worry about dropping the thing. When I
play at our monthly jam, I use the PA mic which is on a stand and cup around
it. I don't get nearly as good a tone as I would with my JT-30 but I also
don't have to worry about dropping the mic, etc. either. I suspect that as
I get more poise handling things, I will be able to use whatever mic I want.
But, I hear guys sounding awful good just walking up to that cheap PA mic
and cupping it in their hands on the stand. Granted, they could probably
sound good playing through a tin can and string but they prove it's not an
insurmountable handicap to be playing
 this way.

Bill Kumpe
Tulsa, OK

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