Problems with draw reed when tongue blocking
Hi David, for some reason when i'm tongue blocking I am having a problem where certain reeeds will stop sounding or sound like there is something in them. I tap them out or let them sit for a few minutes and they are fine, but it happens pretty often and i'm not sure what to do about it. Could it be that i'm building up too much spit around the reeds or do I need to somehow chanige my technique?
Thanks
Grant
Thanks David, I'll let you know if these things work.
Hi David, I purchased a Marine Band Deluxe in G for solo study #1 and couldn't get the 2 draw to sound. I thought there was a defect in the harp so I bought a rocket in G as well because I can play my Rocket in A way better than my Marine Band 1896 in A. I was surprised when I could not get the 2 draw to sound on the G Rocket either. I taped up the surrounding holes and had my wife draw on the deluxe and it sounded no problem. What I mean is they sound extremely quietly and the tone is quite bad.
Any tips on the 2 draw on the G harp?
My tongue is low and mouth is relaxed.
Thanks
My 2 draw is actually bending according to harpninja
This is extremely common... your tongue location is bending the 2, as you have found.
Your challenge is to experiment with tongue location to stop this. I recommend you look in the mirror (with mouth open, no harmonica of course) and confirm that the middle and back of your tongue is lowered, you may be surprised that it's humped up, even when you think it's not.
If it's not humped up, the answer is still the same... experiment with tongue location in your mouth until the bend goes away. I know it's a pain, but it's just a product of playing the harmonica. At first some notes you'll unintentionally bend, and then down the road Intentionally bend :-)
Thank you for the encouragement
You were totally right. I've got to pick your brain one more time though. I get the proper D note now but there is a lot of air going through and just making the airy sound. Hole 3 has a little more volume but these 2 holes are no where near as strong as holes 1,4,5,6,7,8,9 and 10..
Thoughts?
Again, this is technique... use the fix mentioned above... the majority of harmonica players go through this, it's just a property of how the physics of the instrument and the human body works.
Thanks again
Hello Grant. If it's happening on draw reeds only I suspect that your hole size is a bit too small. The single hole you're trying to play (right-hand side) will blow open larger for blows and suck shut for draws. Smile a bit more and angle your tongue a bit to the left. Try this first. Your tone will improve as well.
If it is spit... chin up. It not only looks better when others are watching you play, you'll use gravity to your advantage so that saliva doesn't drool down into your harmonica.
Work on this for a couple of days a report back...