6th hole inhale tongue block and bend/ also Fryette Power Station 100 for apartment practice with neighbors
hi David
I have stayed home for the last two years because of co-vid and when places to play were at a minimum.I did not play or practice.I am concerned and yet at the same time not concerned. I presume I will again be ok. In the past this has happened a few times and each time I was able to grow and move into new place. I would like to thinkI I again will go past what was before and grow.
A month or two ago I went to bend the 4th inhale note and found that I could not do it.
I was unable to tongue block and bend it. I could bend the notes when I pursed my lips. At the same time as I tried bending the note, I was running out of breath.A month went by with no results.I rationalized that I had two separate heart stent operations within a year.I presumed that the co-vid inactivity and the stents had added to the shortness of breath.The lack of attack strength to tongue-block and bend a note was a concern.
I was able to bend the 4th,3rd and 2nd with pursed lips.Another month passed and I regained the ability bend and tongue block the 4th, 3rd, and 2nd holes.
After speaking with a pulmonary exercise doctor, I have accepted the level of inhale I have now will not increase. What I have I will continue to keep with exercise and playing.
Despite regaining the ability to bend the 4th,3rd and 2nd hole with a tongue block, I have not been able to tongue-block bend the 6th hole.
David, would you have any suggestions to do this?
To change the subject......
A while ago I asked if you had any experience with 1-watt amps for practice at low volume levels and not disturb the neighbors.Shortly after that I read a thread on the subject of amp attenuators.I bought two of the cheapest made by Bugera.As I read through the thread I realized it was a choice between the best for studio or the best for live performance.The best for studio is the Universal Audio Ox Amp. I choose the best for live performances, the Fryette Power Station 100. Somehow I had enough money.
I paid up front at Guitar Center and I am waiting for delivery. I really didn't know what I was buying. I have a bunch of small amps and big amps.I have never been able to play them at home.Some I have had since 1990.
The amps have stayed at home unused because of a lack of transportation. I would put my harps in a back pack and ride a bike to the bus stop and then put the bike on the bus.Thirty years have passed and I am still doing the same thing. I am over joyed with a thought that I can take the amps out of their cases and put them in the living room. Soon I will be able to play all of my amps at home. This has never happened before. Everything is going to change.
.......
On April 23 I put three songs in the share section.Two live tracts and one from a studio,Killer Joe,Tonight, and A Change Gonna Come. Each is twenty minutes. Perhaps sometime you might listen.
Thanks as always
Tommy
thanks david
for tongue block bending the 6th hole inhale, i will focus on placing the tip or end of my tongue forward on the roof towards the teeth,
the tip flattened to the roof, rather than only the tip touching the roof and rest of the tongue not touching
am i grasping what your saying?
i have just packed a masco 18 and am sending it to skip
i asked him to use octal pre amp tubes, with the 6 NL7 closest to the power tube
the other 6 NS7
would you think of any other recommendations before i mail it?
thanks
tommy
Yes, you have thee general idea Tommy. Bending requires that you raise your tongue. In this case, you want to focus raising your tongue closer to the face of the harmonica. In regards to the amp... Skip is the man... all you have to do is say that you're a harmonica player and he will do the magic from there.
i was able to use the advice you gave
i did not bend it
i did not attempt to angle the harp, neither up or down
would that be preferred, or just about straight placed
of course keep trying...
thanks
tommy
Hello tommy. Keep your harmonica at the same angle as you normally do when you play. Keep at it, you'll get it.
i have been trying to bend the 6th hole and still no success
i try to breath in easier since my natural inclination is to inhale harder and force the bend
when i bend the 3rd and 4th, the air intake is normal
,then i go to the 6th with the same attack and i am surprised by not bending the note
i have focused on the tongue closer to the upper front teeth, so that the tongue and lips form a V shape
this has gone on for months now, each time i play i make an attempt, i will try to get the tongue closer to the harp
so, i will keep on trying, i wish not to be repetitive in this thread, so i will set a goal of august before i mention this again
i have considered to replace my 59 re-issue speakers with Weber 10A125-O, 20 watt,i have a choice of light doping vs no doping,
what do you think?
i noticed in the bassman chronicles that you also added a cabinet with 2 10"s to the test. do you recall if the cabinet was 4 or 16 ohms?
i know it was a long time ago.the real question is that i have a 4 ohm 2x10" cabinet and i am thinking of changing it to 16 ohms.
do you find any tone difference between the two settings?
thanks
tommy
Hello Tommy.
The physics tell as that we need a small chamber in the mouth, so what you're working on is correct... working on a small chamber in the front of your mouth. I recommend you work with a private instructor... they will be able to help greatly, being that they can see and hear you as you bend. Winslow Yerxa would be a great choice.
I don't think you're going to hear a tone difference with a different ohm setting. It's more of a math thing than a tone thing. The goal is to match your summed ohms to the ohms of your head. Most my heads are 4 ohms, so I would have two 8 ohm speakers, making it 4 ohms total.
Hello Tommy, welcome back.
I'm glad to hear that your skills are returning. For the 6 draw bend, focus on humping more of the front of your tongue, further forward in your mouth. The key is small. P.S., tongue block bending takes no more air than pucker bending (after your skill is good).
Yeah, no experience with attenuators... I hope it works out well for you.