[Harp-L] Re: Practicing through the bends

[Brian McInnis <bluesharpteacher@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi Graham
In order to learn to expertly intonate and control the bent notes you have to:
1. know what they sound like -build your ear
2. make the right mouth shape to resonate the right frequency for each note.

I ask my students to buy a chromatic pitch pipe and use it for reference notes for bending practice.

for instance sound the A,  then the Bb and then the B on the pitchpipe.
Get those notes in your head then play the 3" draw, 3' draw and 3draw on your C harp
Or sound the A, then the F# on the pitchpipe , get  the notes in your head then play the 3"draw and next the 2'draw on your C  harp.

 You'll figure the correct mouth shape for each note by doing this along with your daily practice.
You could use an in tune guitar or piano to do this , but I find the pitchpipe very handy
Brian in Brooklyn