[Harp-L] Newby here

[Laurent Vigouroux]

Hello Lynn

It's true that air pressure is key for playing the harmonica (especially for bends and overbends).
But I would tend to think that the airway of any human being is much, much bigger than what the instrument requires. 
So I don't think the smaller diameter female airway has an impact.

But this is just a guess.

Laurent
www.planetharmonica.com


-----Message d'origine-----
De : Harp-L [mailto:harp-l-bounces at xxxxx] De la part de Lynn wemmer
Envoyé : 6 mars 2017 15:56
À : Michael Rubin <michaelrubinharmonica at xxxxx>
Cc : harp-l at xxxxx; Michelle LeFree <mlefree at xxxxx>
Objet : 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
> >
> >
> >
>
>
>