Re: [Harp-L] finding notes on the chromatic thing

[Slim Heilpern <slim@xxxxxxxxxx>]

I'd add that this works even better if, like Jon, you first plant your tongue squarely in cheek.

There are probably a lot of ways to develop your ability to hit the right note more reliably. I still have a long way to go and I've been playing this darn thing for a long time. Perhaps it's because I enjoy actually playing a hell of a lot more than practicing mechanical exercises. I don't know how many players actually do better than 99.9% accuracy (I believe that's one minor clam per 1000 notes). I've seen some pretty great players miss more than that, and I've seen Toots carefully looking at the harmonica before his first note -- a lot, and he's not the only one.... I suppose that if you're doing pro session work, you do whatever it takes to always be right, otherwise someone else will get the call next time.

Of course, when in doubt, do gliss!  And don't make a weird face like I do when you land in the wrong place, just gliss some more. 

Thanks for the astute observation, Jon ;-).

- Slim.

On Jun 4, 2012, at 12:56 PM, JON KIP wrote:

> I think the business  of finding notes on the Chromatic harmonica  spawned a whole style, long ago....still in use today, I hear.
> 
> Using that style exclusively means you really don't have to spend all that time at the "up and down" practice thing being touted here today.
> 
> Simply mastering the "gliss until you hit the right note and then stop" style is a whole heck of a lot easier than all that "up and down until you can find the notes perfectly" practice....
> 
> it sure saves practice time....PLUS, if you tire of that style, you can always work on going just a bit past the note you want and then glissing back down to the right note.....
> 
> then you'll have mastered BOTH chromatic harmonica styles, in very little time.
> 
> ipso fatso, QED, Etc. 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> On Jun 4, 2012, at 11:06 AM, harp-l-request@xxxxxxxxxx wrote:
> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> So, hold the chromatic at your waist and raise it to your lips. Do this
>>> until you can hit the note you want any time you want it. Always dropping
>>> it away from the mouth after a run.
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>> 
> 
>