[Harp-L] Re: Re:cupping.an odd effect (hazcon)

Greg Heumann <greg@xxxxxxxxxxx> · Tue, 19 May 2009 17:01:14 -0700

Rick,  that is exactly my point. A good tight cup that seals the rear  
is NOT enough. YOU HAVE TO SEAL THE FRONT. The air goes into one hole,  
and then can flow back out, under the covers, back through all of the  
other reeds and out the front. The air moves too freely and we don't  
get the desired effect. Try this - cover holes 5-10 with tape on the  
front. Put the rest of the harp in your mouth. Cup it with your hands  
to seal the back side. Now blow. If you can blow or draw through all 4  
holes,  then put your tongue over the 1st 3 holes, bingo, you're  
tongue blocking and you get a single note. But even with the 4 hole  
chord you should hear a much bigger difference as you open and close  
your cup.
/Greg
From: "hazcon" <hazcon@xxxxxxxxxx>
Date: May 19, 2009 4:51:30 PM PDT
To: "Greg Heumann" <greg@xxxxxxxxxxx>, <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: [Harp-L] Re:cupping.an odd effect

When a similar thread popped up a while ago i did some  
experimenting.This was because i am a 100% puckerer so am unable to  
get that cheek block thing really going.

         What i did was tape up the back of the harp with a sticky  
paper* postage label to completely seal off the back of the harp to  
sort of imitate someone doing a 'proper' cupping seal i.e. no air or  
back pressure being lost from the cup back through the high end  
holes.I had my doubts as to whether or not the harp would even work.

   But what amazed me was that this made no discernable difference  
to the 'sound' of the harmonica at all in either volume or timbre!

With all the talk about comb materials,cover apertures etc here i am  
with a sealed off harp at the back and it sounds as close as dammit  
the same.

Now i'd have to admit that compared to some on the list i have  
probably got cloth ears but shouldn't something so radically counter  
intuitive be blaring noticeable?

           So is this the 'poor mans 'way of achieving a good cup(it  
after all does prevent any back pressure leakage) or am i on a  
different planet.

* in case paper was too porous i got the same effect when i used  
that rubbery stretch duct tape, now that is airtight.

Rick
on Mars