[Harp-L] talking techniques again IMPORTANT CORRECTION

[icemanle@xxxxxxx]

 ONE IMPORTANT CORRECTION TO MY INSTRUCTIONS:

THE SENTENCE 

"So, get into starting from a reference 
point on your harmonica (two hole inhale bend) and sing until the melody will 
sound solid to someone else listening to you."  NEEDS TO BE CHANGED TO

"So, get into starting from a reference 
point on your harmonica (two hole inhale) and sing until the melody will 
sound solid to someone else listening to you."




 


 

-----Original Message-----
From: icemanle@xxxxxxx
To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Sun, Sep 6, 2009 7:59 am
Subject: Re: [Harp-L] talking techniques again











 The discussion has started to morph away from "owning" hole 3 inhale first bend 
and into all inhale notes created through bending techniques in holes 2 and 3.

This seems to be a common phenomenon - before one note is truly mastered, most 
harmonica players want them all.

I've discovered that truly understanding and complete control over this one 
inhale bend will lead to a more solid understanding and control of all the 
others. The path to "owning" 3 hole inhale bend can be used as a guide (w/slight 
variations) to "owning" them all. However, if you sort of get it and then want 
all the other notes with this limited understanding, you ultimately choose the 
longer path.

What seems to happen is that the student gets a little bit impatient or the deep 
understanding of this first technique appears to "take a long time" to grasp. 
Looking at the greater picture - yes, it does take a bit more time and effort 
for deep understanding on this first step. However, once you get there, you've 
got it for life and you apply what you've learned to all the other notes you 
wish to create through inhale bending techniques, and they come to you faster 
and faster. What you end up with is a secure confidence that you can nail these 
notes, which translates to less "avoidance" and less "fudging around" when you 
find yourself in the inhale bend moments, (and those of you out there, if you 
are truly honest with yourselves, know what I'm referring to).

Using outside sources to suggest the sound of 3 hole inhale first bend (piano, 
tuner reference, etc) are not the most powerful way to approach this problem. 
The best way is to learn to create the note all by yourself, using only your 
body - this means forcing yourself to (gasp) sing the note and hold it at good 
pitch. If you can't sing it, you can't play it very well. Rest assured that you 
don't have to have a good singing voice to benefit (whew).

For all the baby boomers I've taught, an excellent common song most know is 
"Spoonful" - the Cream version (my baby boomers were white middle class types, 
so they weren't hip to the original ODBG version of this song, but you can use 
that one as well if it is cataloged in your inner ear).

Play the two hole inhale on a harmonica whose key is one in which you can 
duplicate that note easily within your voice range.

This is the note you start singing "That" in the line "That spoon that spoon 
that spoon-full". The only other note used is up a minor third - "spoon", which 
is the three hole inhale first bend. So, get into starting from a reference 
point on your harmonica (two hole inhale bend) and sing until the melody will 
sound solid to someone else listening to you. Get to the point where you aren't 
sliding around looking for that second note up a minor third (spoon), but are 
hitting it solid. Raise your confidence level by sustaining that "spoon" note 
for five seconds or so.

Now you've created the note you are trying to master from within - not using an 
outside source. 

It will be easier to deal with the creation of this inhale bend note on the 
harmonica if you own the source of this note from within yourself.

Then we can start to discuss the actual technique in simple terms - at the next 
lesson.

The Iceman


 


 

-----Original Message-----
From: Michelle LeFree <mlefree@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Sat, Sep 5, 2009 7:02 pm
Subject: Re: [Harp-L] talking techniques again









I find this sort of discussion amongst the most useful and interesting 
on Harp-L! I wish there was much more if it...?

> Mojo Red writes:?

> <major clippage>?

> Then practice familiar songs that require use of those indivitual bends to 
cement it in as you will already know the note that's ~supposed~ to sound.?

Hi, Ken!?
?

Someone (maybe even you) once pointed out to me a familiar, very simple 
tune that is played entirely on hole 3 and exercises all the bends 
therein. For the life of me I just cannot remember what the song was. 
What is cool about it is that you already have the tune cemented in your 
memory as it is a childhood standard many of us have grown up with. That 
way, you can practice your 3-hole bends anywhere; no need for a piano.?
?

I'd be most appreciative if someone could jog my memory with the name of 
that tune...?
?

I also recall hearing that Kim Wilson likes to play a simple blues 
entirely on hole 3. Anyone know what that is??
?

Thanks,?
?

Michelle (also Harpin' in Colorado!  ;^)?
?

?

_______________________________________________?

Harp-L is sponsored by SPAH, http://www.spah.org?

Harp-L@xxxxxxxxxx?

http://harp-l.org/mailman/listinfo/harp-l?



 

_______________________________________________
Harp-L is sponsored by SPAH, http://www.spah.org
Harp-L@xxxxxxxxxx
http://harp-l.org/mailman/listinfo/harp-l