Looking for advises/tips how to customize a harp for learning overbends
Hello Kinya,
I need your help and wisdom yet again.
I am thinking to try and customize one of my harps so that it will help me pick up the overbending technique.
1. Which harp key would be best to begin with?
- Would wou recommend different keys for learning overblows and overdraws and which keys?
2. What adjustments do I need to make in order to make the overbends happen "easier" and sound smoother (less squeeky)?
I will probably have much more questions on the way but this is for starters :)
Thanks in advance! Stay safe!
Angel
Hello Kinya,
I have managed to obtain (not master) some of the over blows by puckering already (holes 4, 5 and 6 on a C harmonica).
I would like to include them in my daily routine (with tongue blocking), but for that I would like to make myself a customised harp that will make them easirer to obtain/master.
Any tips on how should I gap/treat my reeds?
Hey Angel, my recommendation is to focus on lowering the gaps on those BLOW reeds. Gaps will probably measure somewhere in the .003" to .004" range. For "normal" (read: heavy breathers) type harmonica playing, most players will discover those blow notes will lock up and fail to resonate any sound.
As a rule, most of the master overblowers I know, such as Jason Ricci, Carlos del Junco, Ross Garren breath gently through their instruments. I remember being introduced to Randy Chortkoff RIP, who founded Delta Grooves Production and played harmonica with the Mannish Boys-just before the San Francisco Blues Festival... he mentioned to me that Jason had given him one of his custom (overblow) harmonicas, but for Randy, it was unplayable!
The reason Randy was unable to play Jason's harmonica were that the reed gap tolerances were set extremely low. They were signficantly more shallow than his power breathing could transfer into reed vibration.
I referred to that event to make the point-especially when playing on the bandstand-a diatonic harmonica set up for overblow bending is a completely different instrument. Not different, like a piano is to the tuba, but how you play the thing-different.
Have you connected with Ross Garren yet?
Your Harpsmith, Kinya
Many thanks Kinya!
I will try playing with those gaps.
Yes I am expecting that low toleranses will be a chalenge. That is why I will try that on just 1 harp so that I get the feeling of it.
I have not consulted wirg Ross yet. but I will.
Thanks again!
Stay safe!
Good to learn Angel.
Your Harpsmith, Kinya
Hi Angel, for many (including myself) the overblowing technique is extremely difficult to perform well (intonation). I find it infinitely more difficult to master than our normally challenging 3 half-step bend ;o)
If I have not discouraged you yet, I strongly recommend you write to our resident expert on overblowing, Ross Garrans. You'll find him on the Forum/Overblow. https://www.bluesharmonica.com/forums/ask_overbend_expert_ross_garren
In the meantime, you can practice overblowing with any of your diatonic harmonicas:
Your Harpsmith, Kinya