[Harp-L] Harmo Torpedo

[captron100@xxxxx]

Leonard Schwartzberg <Leonard1 at xxxxx> wrote: I'm not familiar (yet) with over (???). What is (and
> what is difference) overblowing, overbending, overdraw, overdrawing? Do I
> need your Torpedo Harp for this? Can I use my Session Steels? Do they
> need to be specially tuned? What notes will I hit (that I'm not hitting
> now) with these other techniques? Seems like Jason Ricci uses some of
> these unusual techniques. Why is he using them? How does he know when to
> OB, OD, OBend, OBlow, Regular Draw, Regular Blow, Draw Bend (1/2, whole, 1


  Leonard, here are direct answers to your questions. Overbending is a technique that is somewhat different from normal bending. Both techniques are used to play notes that are missing on a regular diatonic harp. Diatonic means that the harp plays the 8 note diatonic scale (doe, ray, me, fa, so, la, te , doe; C note to C note, for example) vs. the 13 note chromatic scale (C to C for example). The chromatic scale has the notes of the diatonic scale with all of the notes in between. Overblowing is simply overbending on a blow note; overdrawing is overbending on a draw note. 
  Overbending is achievable on any brand of harmonica that is properly set up to enable this style of playing - generally low gaps (easy to do) and good reed shaping (more time consuming and requires some knowledge of technique). The technique of overbending allows us diatonic harp players to play full chromatic scales on our diatonic instruments.  In normal bends, the bent notes are lower than the unbent notes; overbent notes produce a note that is higher than the unbent note.  The most commonly used overbent notes, in order of usage (in my opinion) are blow notes 4, 5, 6, and draw 7 & 9, and blow 1. I think it's said that blow 6 is the easiest hole to overblow.
  Jason Ricci uses overbending for the same reason as anybody uses them - to enable us to say (play) things on our diatonic harps that were previously unachievable on normal diatonic harps. To know when to play any particular note on a harmonica, you must have a knowledge of where the notes are on the harp. When I was first learning, I played simple melodies and the diatonic scale until I learned where the notes are in each of the 3 octaves that are available on a diatonic harp. I suggest that you go to U Tube and watch some of the many excellent instructional videos that Jason has generously posted, as well as the myriad of other great instructionals available there. 
  Here is a video which contains instructions on how to overblow, starting at 5:25 in the video. RIP Chris Michalek. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ys86fFfylRw
  Happy harping, 
Ron - FL Keys