mouthcorner
Hey David,
I'm currently wrapping up chorus 4 in the walk with me studysong from tongue blocking study 1. It is going pretty well, however after a bit of playing my spit seems to build up at my mouthcorner on the right side. This on its own is pretty irritating but it also causes that place to be dry and irritated after a bit of playing.
Is this an issue that more players have, and could you think of any reasons and possible fixes for this?
Hello David,
Thanks again for your quick response, I'm glad to hear its not an uncommen thing, I will pay extra attention to the tips you have given me! Also I would like to give you a big compliment! You really put in the effort to help beginners like me and i dont think you can find that kind of dedication anywhere else online. I hope i can count on more of your feedback in the future :)
My pleasure Rero. I'm glad you're enjoying the site. I'm here anytime you need help.
Hello Rero. Saliva is a normal thing to deal with as you're in the beginning stages of learning. I have not had a student mention the irritation before, but I can see how that could happen. Here are some tips on how to lesson the issues of saliva.
1) Head Up - Gravity does a good job of flowing saliva into your harmonica if your head is not level. Raise your music stand (or raise your computer monitor if you're reading from the lesson PDF) closer to eye level, so that you're looking forward, not downward. Not only will this help with saliva, but your neck will be less tired after practice sessions and your tone may improve (less constriction of the throat).
2) Light Touch - Use a light touch with your tongue and lips on the face of the harmonica. The harder you press your tongue on the face of the harmonica, the more saliva you're likely to push into the harp. Using a light touch is also important for good tone, speed (imagine the tongue getting stuck in the holes as you move), and hole accuracy for pretty much any of your tongue block techniques.
3) Tilt the face of the harmonica downwards - This is what I teach in the beginning lessons in regards to good technique for general embouchure (how you place the harmonica in the mouth), but it's also helpful for this saliva issue. Review the basic lessons on how to play a single note on the harmonica for visuals of this.
4) Play Softly – The louder you play, the more there’s a probability that saliva will flow out with your air. Less air can mean less saliva. This will not be an issue after you’ve mastered the above tips, but it’s something you can use now to help, and most players play too loud anyways, so it’s a good overall tip.