Flat tone on low draw notes (Temperature Chorus 3)
What might I try to improve my ability to quickly get a 2 draw sound out? My 2 draw rarely sounds (still getting used to the "yawning" relaxation of the tongue and throat) and when I can get it to sound it seems like that embouchure makes my 1 draw bend unintentionally.
50 seconds of example practice.
What do y'all recommend I focus on as I practice this lick?
For me was putting my tongue to the "ground" like its just resting there with "no" activities what so ever. Like complete relax and also my jaw drop a bit. it gives me a clean note and better tone and since I was able to do the 2 draw like that, that position of tongue and jaw became how I play by default nowadays almost everything without even thinking about it. I actually pick the harp and tried it so I could explain what worked for me.
Thank you Brian and Eric. I'll try to keep my tongue low and practice, practice, practice.
The air flowing through your throat and nouth needs to move silently, without any drag, constriction, or obstruction.
Try this: Play one of the troublesome notes, and as you inhale, pull the harmonica away without changing anything else. If you hear any sound from your breathing, try to locate it and eliminate it.
Potential constriction points:
- Mouth/tongue contact with the harmonica. If your lips or tongue crowd the hole this can drage pitch down.
- Tongue inside the oral cavity. To the extent possible, your tongue should be "lying on the floor like a rug," so as not to interfere with air flow
- Tongue and vocal cords in the vocal area. Try saying Unggg deep in your mouth, essentially in the throat. Notice how your tongue tends to close off or narrow airflow in that area. Now try saying Uh-Oh (as in no way). Notice how your vocal cords close off the airflow when you do this. To keep these areas open, try yawning and notice what happens in that area - everything opens way up to allow free flow of air. Try keeping that area open (but in a relaxed way) all the time as you play.
I'm beginner here, but here are my two cents: somehow my chords around the hole 2 were sounding good, but I couldn't manage to get a clean 2. I was sounding quite similar to your example. I them started with a draw 1-2 chord and while drawing, tongue blocked the 1 (without stopping the airflow) and kept drawing the air up to completely fill the lungs. After I did the same, but exhaling, started with a 1-2 chord and suddenly but gently TB the 1. Maybe the transition from the chord to the single note helped my mouth to "understand" what I had to do. After a few training sessions it happened! I kept doing this exercise but blocking the 1 hole earlier each time, I now I'm able to get a pretty decent 2 draw.
Give it a try! Hope it helps!
Regards
The diaphragm breathing (rather than sucking like using a straw) is helping me relax and lower my tongue. This may be part of keeping an open path for the air to flow without constriction.
Thank you Gustavo and Winslow! Your ideas both helped as well.
I'm just a beginner but had the same issue until I tried tilting my head up and look at the ceiling. This seemed to force my tongue down and allow the note to sound. After practicing that way for awhile I no longer have to tilt my head up. Good luck and have fun!
For me it was making sure and getting used to breathing using my diaphragm and not me chest muscles. This was not natural for me. I would start all my practice sessions with breathing exercises along with playing scales, until breathing using the diaphragm became natural.
Sound like you are doing the other things that are needed to get a good 2 draw.
Otherwise, just practice, practice, practice. My experience with learning harmonica has been that almost everything new has seemed impossible until one day I woke up and it was no longer impossible. Some things just take time.
Brian in Tennessee