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Forums :: Ask Instructor David Barrett

On pitch 3 draw tongue blocked

3 replies [Last post]
Mon, 12/23/2019 - 11:10
BJPalm
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Level 4
Joined: 11/08/2018

Hi David - I'm struggling with a clean three draw unbent.  It seems I can't get the pitch up to where it needs to be without leaking in some air - either through my nose or my lips or corner of my mouth.  Bending is no problem but not bending is.  Any suggestions? Betty

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Mon, 12/23/2019 - 14:31
#1
David Barrett
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ExpertHead InstructorTeacher 10Level 10
Joined: 12/20/2009
Hello Betty. It's rare that

Hello Betty. It's rare that it's the lips or nose creating the airy sound that you're hearing... it's the position of your tongue (which causes the tuning of your mouth to be such that the reed will not receive all of the air for vibration... some of the air passes through the harmonica). The position of your tongue is causing the tuning of your mouth to interfere with the reed vibrating (you can think of it as a position of your tongue that's trying to bend... unintentional bending of course... but a bend-like issue none-the-less). This is a common problem (most have it with the 2 draw, and sometimes 1 draw, but you're having it with the 3). To fix this, watch the video on this page https://www.bluesharmonica.com/faq titled "My 2 draw and/or high-end notes sounds flat, airy or not at all!"

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Tue, 12/24/2019 - 12:08
#2
Evets
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Joined: 12/07/2019
3-hole draw

Betty and David:

I am also struggling with the 3-hole draw, especially with the first "Walk With Me" lesson.

(2-hole draw is successful more often than not???)

I have studied the page https://www.bluesharmonica.com/faq titled "My 2 draw and/or high-end notes sounds flat, airy or not at all!"

I have also gone through the Tomlin Leckie & Liam Ward videos (dealing with 2-hole draw), and I have reviewed the Lee Oskar FAQs.

So far, on the 1st chorus of "Walk With Me", I get the starting 3-hole draw 1 out of 25 tries. For some reason, however, the last 3-hole draw (6th bar) is successful 5 out of 25 tries.

I have tried a "D" harp and am able to get a decent draw about 50% of the time.

Anyhoo - enough griping; time to practice

 

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Tue, 12/24/2019 - 12:08
#3
Evets
Evets's picture
Offline
Joined: 12/07/2019
3-hole draw

Betty and David:

I am also struggling with the 3-hole draw, especially with the first "Walk With Me" lesson.

(2-hole draw is successful more often than not???)

I have studied the page https://www.bluesharmonica.com/faq titled "My 2 draw and/or high-end notes sounds flat, airy or not at all!"

I have also gone through the Tomlin Leckie & Liam Ward videos (dealing with 2-hole draw), and I have reviewed the Lee Oskar FAQs.

So far, on the 1st chorus of "Walk With Me", I get the starting 3-hole draw 1 out of 25 tries. For some reason, however, the last 3-hole draw (6th bar) is successful 5 out of 25 tries.

I have tried a "D" harp and am able to get a decent draw about 50% of the time.

Anyhoo - enough griping; time to practice

 

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