Bending Question
Mon, 04/13/2020 - 06:58
Hi David,
After being forced to have a break from harmonica lessons for three weeks due to breathing difficulties caused by Covid-19, I am working on bending notes. I understand what you say that I need to develop muscle memory through putting the hours in.
My question is should I work on one hole at a time until I can comfortably bend the notes of that hole before moving to the next, or is it better to spend a little time on each?
Also,
I can bend hole one without tongue blocking but I assume that I will absolutely need to be able to bend it whilst tongue blocking?
Many thanks and keep well
Saul
Hello Saul.
I'm sorry to hear about the breathing challenges.
You can go about your bending practice pretty much any way that you want... the key element is just to do it and log in hours bending.
Most students will practice all of the holes of one harmonica. Generally it's a good idea to practice the hole that bends easiest for you first. Let's say that you're practicing your 4 draw bend, and you're able to get it pretty good (better than all the other holes). Bend that 4 and make note of your tongue position (which part humps up, in which part of the mouth). When going to the 3, you know you need to use more of the back of the tongue (it could just be a 1/4" further back, but either way, further back), and further back in your mouth. Working on your 5 draw bend, you know that you need to use more of the front of the tongue, further forward in your mouth. The 4 draw gives you a reference point.
No, you can pucker 1. I commonly pucker 1 as well. I tongue block my 1 sometimes, it just depends on my run, but there's no reason why for hole 1 you can't pucker all the time.