How to maintain bending ability
Sun, 04/24/2016 - 11:01
As a player develops in ability, how can they best maintain good bending skills? Just playing songs will probably not be enough, since not every song requires precision bending. Is there a single exercise or study song that can be practiced a few times a week to keep bending sharp?
I think "Half Steppin" is a good practice of bending, but it doesn't incorporate blow bending. Maybe sometimes play "Half Steppin" and sometimes play "Blowing the Blues"?
Those are both very good choices Marc. In general this is a non-issue though. Bending is at the core of great playing and the longer you play/study this instrument the more bending you'll use.
What will be a good idea is to use different keys of harmonica often. I remember in my first decade of playing that when needing to play a key of harmonica I haven't used in a long time (especially and very low or high key), I had trouble controlling my bending. Luckily this is easily fixed... make your go-to jam harp (maybe the one you warm up with or carry in your pocket) a different key each month.