Re: [Harp-L] tilting the harp

[Joseph Leone <3n037@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

DO NOT insert chromatics deep into your mouth. No matter what anyone tells you. All you need is to seal the connection. Technically, you should be able to hang a chromatic from the ceiling by two strings, step up to it, and without using any hands, place the lips upon it and be able to play notes. That's IT. Diatonics are different.  

smokey-joe

On Oct 10, 2013, at 2:14 PM, Music Cal wrote:

> One of the problems that I have with putting my chromatic harp deep in my
> mouth is that it tends to result in more frequent abrasion/irritation near
> the corners of my mouth. I have found ways to cut down the frequency of
> these - mostly be make sure the harp is really clean in key places - but I
> have not eliminated them entirely. Any tips?
> 
> MusiCal
> 
> 
> On Wed, Oct 9, 2013 at 8:19 AM, The Iceman <icemanle@xxxxxxx> wrote:
> 
>> It would be nice to somehow remove the word "pucker" from harmonica
>> pedagogy.
>> 
>> 
>> The word suggests to the student to purse the lips and tighten muscles.
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Steve Baker <steve@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>> To: harp-l <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
>> Sent: Wed, Oct 9, 2013 10:54 am
>> Subject: Re: [Harp-L] tilting the harp
>> 
>> 
>> There are a couple of good reasons to tilt the back of the harp upwards
>> when
>> puckering:
>> 
>> In order to get a full tone with a pucker, the active element (the reed)
>> needs
>> to be in close proximity to the passive element (air column in vocal
>> tract). The
>> only way to do this is to take the harp well inside the mouth. As Boris
>> rightly
>> pointed out, to get the tone on lower notes, the upper lip needs to
>> enclose the
>> top cover to about 2/3 of the distance towards the back. The corners of the
>> mouth need to be in contact with the harp to prevent air loss. If you do
>> this,
>> how do you ensure that the lip opening is still small enough to enable a
>> single
>> note?
>> 
>> To obtain a single puckered note with this degree of lip enclosure, the
>> player
>> extends the lower jaw forwards, in the process enlarging the resonance
>> chamber
>> in the vocal tract. If you then place the harp between your lips, the
>> extended
>> lower jaw automatically means it will tend to be tilted up. In fact, if you
>> don't tilt, you'll most likely be unable to play a single note with this
>> lip and
>> jaw position. The tilt effectively reduces the size of the lip opening
>> while
>> allowing the player to take the harp deep inside the mouth.
>> 
>> Steve Baker
>> www.stevebaker.de
>> www.european-music-workshops.com
>> www.harmonica-masters.de
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>>