Bending ( Feelin for the blues LOA #3)
Dave,
When Im practicing the choruses, I found if I tilt the harmonica up and left it come back more into my mouth - I can get some of the bends to sound like yours. Is this not a good idea, and can it lead to bad habits, or is it okay. Your thoughts much appreciated
Sorry Dave - I wasnt specific enough and I keyed in a typo to further complicate matters - it should have said let it come back - not left it come back
So I am slightly elevating the harmonica from a perpindicular position to bringing the rear portion( air exiting portion) of the harmonica slightly tilted up, so that the rear is a bit higher than the mouthpiece of the harmonica, that is anchored in my mouth. I also let the harmonica come back into my mouth a little bit more( not favoring one side or the other as my typo suggested)
No problem, I just wanted to give you the best answer I could.
"Bringing the rear portion( air exiting portion) of the harmonica slightly tilted up, so that the rear is a bit higher than the mouthpiece of the harmonica" This is good... I personally do this as well, and teach it in the lessons. The face of the harmonica is angled more towards the top of your tongue when doing this, which is wider and more easily covers the holes needed for our tongue block techniques (especially for pulls, where you're blocking 4 to 5 holes at a time).
Having your harmonica deeper in your mouth is also good... it causes you to open your mouth more, making your resonant mouth cavity larger, promoting deeper tone.
So, all is good with your approach.
Thanks
Hello Baruch.
Are you tipping the face (side facing you) or rear up?
Also, "left it come back more into my mouth" are you saying that the left side (hole 1) is deeper in your mouth and the right side (hole 10) is further way from your right cheek?