Re: [Harp-L] Re: Overblows in the blues - check this out

[Bob Cohen <bob@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

On Feb 13, 2010, at 4:22 PM, Ev630 wrote:

> matter the genre, the point is that you can't get the same bassy tone when
> doing lots of that lip pursing and whistling through the harp, so you need
> effects.

I respectfully disagree. Jason has amazing tone even when playing acoustically.  And borrowing from my own experience, I recently switched from 100% tongue blocking to 90 % pucker. My tone improved vastly.  Of course, I did change a few other things.  What I noticed was that full round notes came more from what was happening beyond the point of contact with the harp. Indeed, it was paying attention the other stuff that made the difference.  So, now both my tb and pucker playing is fatter than ever. And, after a years long struggle, which included failing the Chris Michalek patented Sholin Straw technique while playing on one of his equally famous harmonica, I nailed overblows, and not just the six hole: all the other ones too.

This observation was reinforced most recently while attending the Sunday drum circle at Siesta Key, FL last month. Didn't have a drum, didn't want to get left out so I whipped out a low F harp.  I chugged for an hour and a half straight.  As time went on, I stopped thinking and just breathed through the instrument.  My rhythm playing became effortless and my embouchure opened wider than ever.  My tone was fatter than I imagined possible--especially on those two draw bends.

Best,

Bob