Re: [Harp-L] Oh those overblows...

[David Payne <dave@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Chuck, the overblow embouchure is a lot like the bending ones. You can hit them with a blow or deaw bend embouchure... If you're getting squealing, you've sent the draw reed (it becomes a blow reed in overblow) into overblow. The squeal is coming from the blow reed - in the overblow situation, there is torsion force upon the blow reed, that can make it twist around, thus the squeal. If you want to practice overblows and hear what you sound like without the squeal, take the covers off, then put a finger over the blow reed's slot. This eliminates the blow reed from the picture. 
While bending is an interaction of two reeds, overblows are not, it's making the draw reed become a blow reed while making the real blow reed shut the hell up.

David
www.elkriverharmonicas.com


Sent from my iPhone

On May 31, 2012, at 17:29, Chuck Linville <linvillec@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> Ok, I am thoroughly confused. I've been pretty much happy to stick with simple blues stuff since I started, and never really interested in getting too fast or too fancy. But after getting turned on to Howard Levy and watching other amazing guys doing these overblows, it's kinda overblowing my mind. I didn't think I had much of a use for them, but now I'm irritated because I can't do it... HA! Well, I got it doing "something"... it's squeakin and honkin like a goose. Sounds like someone learning the clarinet. Just awful. Alright, so two questions, if someone would be kind enough to help a guy out: 1) When I blow in holes 8, 9, and 10 and bend the note DOWN, is that "overblowing?" 2)I assume that it's at least possible to overblow on an unmodified harmonica, yes? My harps are 90% Special 20's  Thanks folks -chuck