Re: [Harp-L] 3-hole draw goes flat without trying

[Gary Casterline <garycasterline@xxxxxxxxx>]

Yup.  It's probably software (myware).  Winslow actually mentioned this
when I took his class at the Jazz School here in Berkeley last Fall -- "I'm
hearing a little bend there." -- when I was supposed to be playing straight
draw notes.  I'd been forming my bad harp habits in solitude for about 3
years.  Maybe my ears are improving a little anyway.  I'd been carrying a C
SP20 most of the time.  The 3-hole cooperated fairly well, though I had a
hard time finding 3 half steps in there.  I must be starting quite a bit
under the unbent note so there isn't as much left to bend down to. Now I've
picked up a G to carry around and work with.   I might just be learning
what I need to do with a lower harp.

Thanks.  _Gary


On Tue, Jan 29, 2013 at 3:02 PM, Rick Dempster <rick.dempster@xxxxxxxxxxx>wrote:

> Don't know how long you've been playing, but when I was teaching
> regularly, I would always tell people experiencing this kind of thing to
> allow air to pass through the nose as they drew in. If the note bends under
> those conditions, then there is something wrong with the hardware, not the
> software (ie you) It's usually the 2 hole, rather than the more resistant 3
> hole bend that does this kind of thing.
> It could of course be a combination of you and the instrument, in which
> case you may like to try gapping the draw 3 reed a little higher (active
> word here is 'little')
> RD
>
>
> On 29 January 2013 18:18, Gary Casterline <garycasterline@xxxxxxxxx>wrote:
>
>> The 3-hole draw on my G special 20 seems to want to bend down too easily.
>>  If I'm real careful and keep my mouth completely neutral and don't try
>> for
>> any volume at all, it's about right.  As soon as put even a little more
>> power into the draw it dips into a bend without any change in my mouth.
>>
>> What should I look for if I take it apart?  Any suggestions?
>>
>> Thanks!   _Gary
>>
>
>
>
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