Bending
Regarding practicing Bending. To make sure that we are on the same page.
Draw: 1,2,3,4 and 6
Best to start with a C harp ? After that becomes doable....what is the order of keys
of harp that you would recommend in leves of increasing difficulty ?
Thank you for your time
Steve Barta
Hi David, I finally taped up adjacent holes and have been able to bend the 6 draw and 1 draw on my A harp. I can't get the 1 draw to bend if i put my tongue up on the comb. I find that hole very easy to bend if I just stick my chin out. Hole 6 on the other hand I am finding more difficult to bend but I have been able to get it and have it move a little bit when I do have my tongue on the tape beside the hole. With the hole number 6 it seems like I have to make the restriction quite small and it takes a lot of power to pull the air in through the restriction I've created by lifting my tongue up to the top front of my mouth.
Also I can bend hole 6 on my rocket but I cannot on the Marine Band 1896
Do you have any tips or tricks that I can try? Suggestions?
I suppose the best thing I can do is to just keep trying.
Thanks
Good morning svensharkey.
Sticking out the jaw slightly is making your mouth cavity larger, which is to be expected for a low bend on a low-keyed harmonica like the A. Also experiment with lowering the middle of the tongue, this also will create a larger cavity. You can choose to pucker all the time for hole 1 if you wish, but do know with continued practice over time you will get the 1 draw bend while tongue blocking (blocking holes 2 and 3 commonly with your tongue).
I'm not clear about what you mean "I do have my tongue on the tape beside the hole," which side do you have the tape, the higher holes or lower holes? Either way, your tongue should be to the left. As you've found, it's not uncommon for your embouchure size to decrease a little when playing the 6 draw and it's bend, but do not play louder/harder, you want to control your technique with tuning your mouth, not air pressure. Yes, you are correct about "lifting my tongue up to the top front of my mouth," this is proper technique.
It's the setup of the person who worked on your harmonica in the factory more than the model of harmonica that makes it easier or harder to play. Some models can have the properties of being more "air tight," but it mostly has to do with how well that actual harmonica was setup by the numerous hands that worked on it.
Keep experimenting, you will get better and better at each practice session.
Thanks David
Hello Steve. The harmonica you learn on does not matter. You can use the C if matching the same pitches as the presented bending chart is easier for you and then move to the A Harmonica as you work on your first study song with bending (Feelin' for the Blues).