Re: [Harp-L] Bending Stress in reeds (was Manji Reed Quality)

["Rick Dempster" <rick.dempster@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Vern;
         I suggest you take the covers off a harp, put your finger over, say, draw 1, and now try to draw bend, just as usual. It will be harder, but it will work.
If it's too hard, start with finger off, get the full bend happening, and then whack your finger over the draw reed while still breathing in. The note should continue, one semitone higher than the blown pitch of hole 1.
         Now that is a 'conventional' bend, except that it is unassisted by the higher pitched paired reed.
         Now put your finger on the blow reed, and try blow bending; same result.
         Maybe I should suggest hole 6, instead of 1, which is notably the easiest to 'overblow'.
         These techniques are just standard bends, really; but they are single reed bends.
Cheers,
RD

>>> Vern <jevern@xxxxxxx> 24/11/2011 14:55 >>>
I can't overblow and I don't understand how they work.  I'll be watching this thread to see what I can learn.

Vern

On Nov 23, 2011, at 3:48 AM, Rick Dempster wrote:

> Vern;
>         Unless I'm missing something here, I believe I might be in disagreement with you: If I block either opposing reed, I can play the single reed with blow or a draw, and the difference will be (roughly) a semitone.
> RD