[Harp-L] Newby here

[Gary Lehmann]

What Phil says is true. 
However, I have had female students who bent notes without meaning to--statistically more than my male students. What I recommended to Lynn via P mail was that she find a teacher.
To paraphrase Bill Maher, "How much could it cost?"
Sent from my iPhone

> On Mar 6, 2017, at 10:52 AM, philharpn--- via Harp-L <harp-l at xxxxx> wrote:
> 
> 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
>