How much do I blow in order not to suck?
Going through these lessons, I'm finding that a softer touch seems to help me hit the notes and even go faster. Blowing lightly helps me with my tone and technique - even with things like shakes. My breathing seems easier to manage, too. On the other hand, while the sound is not too soft, it's not too loud either.
So I'm wondering, how much do we really need to blow in these things? Is a nice, light touch all that is required, or should I be practicing blowing like there's no tomorrow?
I find that when I focus on blowing 'softly', I get the comment that I'm sounding tentative. Maybe its adrenaline but when I play at a jam (with guitars up to 12 on a ten point volume scale, I just can't pull back to blowing softly - besides I like the way Andy Just plays - ;-)
So how do I blow softly and not suck big time? It's not like I'm forcing the blow but how do you judge how hard or loud you are blowing??
Turn your amp as loud as it will go and play softly... use tremolo and dynamics (louds and softs)... this is huge... and... know when to kick as when a song/solo asks for it... playing louder and powerfully when the energy is needed.
When blowing softer not only do you spare the harp but you have much more of advantage when it comes to dynamics. Being able to emphasize and deemphasize certain passages gives the song a lot more depth.
You can get a big sound by playing softly if you use volume of air flow without much force.
Think of a medium-sized nail (the note you're trying to play).
Now think of using a tiny hammer to drive that nail. Even hitting the nail hard won't make it move -though it might dent the nail or even break the hammer.
Now imagine you have a really big hammer. You can give that nail a soft tap and drive it in very easily because of the weight of the big hammer.
In harmonica terms, this means breathing deeply (weight of the big hammer) but at a gentle rate (the soft tap). You'll get a big sound without a lot of effort and without breaking reeds (much). And you will sound authoritative and not tentative at all.
Thanks Winslow. By the way, I suck at hammering nails, too.
Time to get a bigger hammer :)
Bingo... you're getting it!