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Free Sample Lessons
After watching the BluesHarmonica.com overview video, try one of the lessons below to experience a lesson at BluesHarmonica.com.
- Tongue Blocking Study 2 – This study is for the newer player or the player new to tongue blocking
- Bending Study 5 – This is for the advanced player looking to improve their bending skills
Hi Tommy,
Here are some postings from our April 2010 forum, that addresses this all too common issue:
Even the most careful player -- including those who have never dropped their Chromatic, or not de-gum the sugar out of their mouth after drinking a tall Coke ;o) will experience sticking slides.
The tolerance between the surfaces of the slide and the track is extremely close. Even a small amount of Harmonicoccus (coagulated saliva, oils and other unidentifiable fluids) will gum up the works.
Winslow recommends lubricating the entry points of the slide with a few drops of purified (bottle) water. This method has gotten me out of some sticky situations.
If this does not work, carefully disassemble - WATCH FOR THE SPRING - and gently clean your slide/tracks with diluted dishwashing solution. Rinse and dry all residue from the slide/tracks and re-assemble. For you players who have wooden comb chromatic harmonicas, such as the Hohner 270, be extremely careful not to over-tighten the mouthpiece screws -- it will easily damage the comb (enlarges the holes).
Winslow adds:
"if you're in the middle of a rehearsal or performance, you may not have the time to fix a sticky slide by taking it apart and cleaning it, and you may not even have bottled water at hand. But there's a quick fix that I learned from Blackie Schackner, one of the old-time chromatic greats. You use your mouth to directly inject saliva at both ends of the mouthpiece, around the button end of the slide, and in the little slide slot at the far end of the harp, which is sometimes where the sticking occurs. This simple fix has gotten me out of more jams (literally) than I can count".
On October 10th, 2012, I visited the Suzuki harmonica factory in Hamamatsu, Japan. I now recommend that you try their proprietary blend of "slider oil" for chromatic harmonicas. Check the usual internet sites for availability.
Your Harpsmith
Kinya