[Harp-L] Newby here

[philharpn@xxxxx]

If you can whistle, you can play harmonica. You are overthinking this.

Women can play just as well and sometimes better than men. Check out YouTube by Annie Raines!
Or her web site. I just finished teaching a class of 10 people in my Harmonica 101 class. Half women. None of them had any problems that the men didn't have. 
Phil



-----Original Message-----
From: Lynn wemmer <fitwoman56 at xxxxx>
To: Michael Rubin <michaelrubinharmonica at xxxxx>
Cc: harp-l <harp-l at xxxxx>; Michelle LeFree <mlefree at xxxxx>
Sent: Mon, Mar 6, 2017 9:56 am
Subject: Re: [Harp-L] Newby here

I'm a nurse and I've been thinkinng about the  anatomy of the smaller
diameter female airway vs the larger male airway. Is it logical to expect a
petit airway to get different results than a larger airway?

On Mar 6, 2017 9:17 AM, "Michael Rubin" <michaelrubinharmonica at xxxxx>
wrote:

> Lynn,
> Is it a 10 hole harmonica in the key of C?
>
> If so, does 3 draw not sound at all or does it produce a flat sound?
>
> If it does not sound at all something is restricting the reed. Open up the
> cover plates. The draw reed is on the bottom of the harp. The lower pitches
> are the longer reeds. Look at reed 3 and see if there is a piece of fizz
> restricting it. Pull it away.
>
> Whether or not there is a restricting item place your fingernail under the
> tip of the reed and plink the reed. Does it make a musical sound?  Whether
> or not it does, plink softly 40 times. If at the end of the 40 plinks you
> are not hearing a musical sound something is wrong with the reed that can
> be fixed with more advanced mechanical work but let's only go there if need
> be.
>
> Another option which I would recommend in any case would be to buy a
> second C harp. Any harp over $35 should be fine. Do not be surprised if
> this solves the problem.
>
> If you are experiencing a lower pitch than you want ( anything lower than
> the note B on a free smart phone app tuner) welcome to the club. Unless you
> are an unusual beginner this will be your first big humo for learning.
> Remember it is pnormal and almost everyone experiences this. Expect 3 to 6
> months to work through this issue.   You may get a nice sound today but I
> am taking anout consistently nice.
>
> There is a technique in the harmonica world called bending which means to
> lower the pitch by altering your embouhure. Because you are a beginner you
> have a beginner's embochure and therefore are likely to unintentionally
> bend.
>
> The basic physics of bending say if yoi constrict the airflow the note
> will go lower in pitch. You therefore need to deconstrict
>
> Lower your jaw.
>
> Lower and flatten your tongue.
>
> Width is the opening of your mouth from cheek to cheek. Keep a narrow
> width. Say the hard E sound.
>
> Imagine a balloon in your forehead. Send the air to the forehead.
>
> i hope this helps.
> Michael Rubin
> Michaelrubinharmonica.com
>
>
>
> On Mon, Mar 6, 2017 at 6:51 AM, Lynn wemmer <fitwoman56 at xxxxx> wrote:
>
> Thanks, Michelle.  I'll definitely check it out!!
>
> On Mar 6, 2017 7:26 AM, "Michelle LeFree" <mlefree at xxxxx>
> wrote:
>
> > Lynn wemmermwrote:
> >
> > Hello everyone.  I sure could use your help.  I've been playing the
> >> harmonica since December.  I've practiced everyday but one.  But even
> with
> >> all this dedication I'm having trouble with the 3 draw.  Once in awhile
> I
> >> get lucky and hit it but there's no consistency.  Any helpful advice
> would
> >> be much appreciated.
> >>
> >
> > You would benefit greatly if you'd learn to gap your reeds, also called
> > adjusting the reed offset.
> >
> > Here's video one in a series in which Joe Spiers,one of today's top
> > harmonica technicians shows how.
> >
> > https://youtu.be/Rh79GaDVmC8
> >
> > Here's Steve Baker's installment on adjusting reed offset from Hohner's
> > Service Workshop series.
> >
> > https://youtu.be/12cdfpp2Sg0
> >
> > There are many other Youtube videos on the subject. Search for setting
> > reed gaps or adjusting reed offset (same thing).
> >
> > Greg Jones of Seydel and Andrew Zajac of Hohner also have some excellent
> > how to videos on this and many other related subjects.
> >
> > Good luck and come back if you continue to have problems or questions.
> >
> > Michelle
> >
> >
> >
>
>
>