Noisy Airflow Noise Over and Below Harmonica When Playing
Hi David, I have just begun playing and have made a start on your lessons at the appropriate level. However, I'm presently putting most of my effort into being able to play clean single notes using tongue blocking. I believe I'm making good progress, but with one persistent and annoying problem which is summarised in this extract from an on-line article: 'Another problem may be that you are leaking air in and around the harmonica. If this is your problem you need to practise in front of a mirror and try to locate where the leak is. Make sure that your lips form a tight seal around the harmonica. This is especially common if you have just taken up tongue blocking'. I have spent a great deal of time ensuring the harmonica (which is new a Crossover and should not be faulty) is seated well into my mouth, that my top and bottom lips are properly in place and should be providing good seals, etc. etc. But, even though I seem to be getting clean notes, most ot the time I sound like a puffing billy. I'm pretty sure it's not due to inhaliing through my nose. It is worse when I approach either end of the harmonica. Just out of interest, I practised with my Hohner microphone and my practise amp and this huffing and puffing noise almost totally dominates the amplfiied playing. I have 6 relatively new harmonicas and the problem exists with all of them, reinforcing the point that the issue is not air leakage from a faulty harmonica. I'm very methodicial and usually pretty good at problem solving, but I've made very little progress with the problem over several weeks and I'm getting more and more frustrated. Could you perhaps point me to some lessons and/or reading that might be of assistance? PS I have looked in the FAQ section of your site and couldn't find any particularly useful information. Many thanks in anticipation, Richard McMahon.
Many thanks for your prompt response, David. I'll proceed as you suggest.
Hi David, Here is some feedback on progress with my problem. Today I did quite a bit of reading, particularly about breathing. When I tried to put what I found into practice, it became clear that a large part of my problem is that I've been blowing and sucking through the harmonica instead of simply breathing in and out through the harmonica. I haven't solved the problem entirely, but I've certainly improved my situation by following this simple and retrospectively obvious lesson. The other milestone today is further consolidating my ability to 2 Draw cleanly. I'm feeling more encouraged now. Thank you for your assistance!
Fantastic, great to hear Richard. If you're not already watching my lessons with Sharon and Hob, you'll find these to really reinforce what I teach in the lessons (we send a lot of time on embouchure and breathing).
Hello Richard. This is a challenging issue to diagnose because it sounds like air leakage, and one would assume that the leakage is around your gasket... your lips. This is not the case. What you're hearing is air passing through the harmonica, not going towards reed vibration. One would think that all air going through the harmonica should go towards vibrating the reeds, but the pitch of your mouth cavity and the pitch of your reed are coupled system. Your tongue location dictates the pitch of your mouth (to a certain degree jaw location as well, but to a lesser degree). The fix is your tongue position. Your tongue is located in your mouth in such a way that it's interfering with the reed's ability to vibrate freely. Go to the FAQ page (https://www.bluesharmonica.com/faq) and watch the first video titled "My 2 draw and/or high-end notes sounds flat, airy or not at all!" This will take time to fix (two months on average for most students), so work on it every time you pick up the harmonica, but also continue your other studies. You'll get it Richard, it's a common thing for new players.