Re: [Harp-L] Progression

[Eric Miller <miller.eric.t@xxxxxxxxx>]

Thanks for correcting me Winslow.  I guess because I feel the draw notes
more in my jaw and chest that I made assumptions about what was happening
there regarding airflow and sound. Your explanation makes more sense.


On Mon, Oct 7, 2013 at 3:30 PM, Winslow Yerxa <winslowyerxa@xxxxxxxxx>wrote:

> I'm doubtful that the air direction has much to do with how good the note
> sounds.
>
> Your body acts as a resonating chamber regardless of air direction.
>  Every time the reed chops through the slot in the reed plate, it
> interrupts the air flow and sends a little shock wave back into the air
> stream. This happens regardless of which direction the air moves in.
>
> The real reason that Draw 2 sounds different from Blow 3 is that Draw 2 is
> the high note in its hole, and therefore bendable - it pulls the Blow 2
> into sympathetic vibration. Blow 3, on the other hand, is the low note in
> its hole and doesn't bend down.
>
> If Blow 3 were bendable, it would sound as full as Draw 2. You can make
> this happen by valving the draw slot in Hole 3. Also, compare the blow
> notes and the draw notes in Holes 7-10. In that range, the blow notes are
> bendable ones, and also the notes that tend to sound fuller.
>
> Winslow
>
>
> Winslow Yerxa
> Author, Harmonica For Dummies, ISBN 978-0-470-33729-5
>             Harmonica Basics For Dummies, ASIN B005KIYPFS
>             Blues Harmonica For Dummies, ISBN 978-1-1182-5269-7
> Resident Harmonica Expert, bluesharmonica.com
> Instructor, Jazzschool for Music Study and Performance
>
>
> ________________________________
>  From: Eric Miller <miller.eric.t@xxxxxxxxx>
> To: Tony Stephens <tnysteph@xxxxxxxxx>
> Cc: Harp-L <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
> Sent: Sunday, October 6, 2013 6:53 PM
> Subject: Re: [Harp-L] Progression
>
>
> HI Tony-
>
> Do a little experiment:
>
> Grab your C harp and play a 2D.  Make it as full and as nice as you are
> able...try to "tune" your mouth, throat, lungs, and diaphragm to make it as
> rich as you can.
>
> Now do the same with the 3B.  Make it as full and rich as you can.
>
> Hear the difference?  This is because on the draw, you are exercising your
> body's ability to act as a resonating chamber (like the body of an acoustic
> guitar, or a violin).  Sound travels on air, and if the air is *exiting
> *your
> body...then there is substantially less opportunity for this resonant magic
> to happen.  It's still there, but to a lesser degree on blow notes than
> draw notes.
>
>