Reed squeal while bending the third hole
Tue, 01/13/2026 - 20:16
Hi, I am a beginner practicing bending but whenever I bend the 3rd hole to a certain depth, the reed always squeal and makes a metal scraping like sound. I attached the soundcloud links when I bend on A harmonica and C harmonica, starting from the 4th to the 1st hole. For both A and C harmonica, the squeal happened on the 3rd hole. I tried to draw with less force but it didn't help. Could anyone give suggestion? Thanks!
https://on.soundcloud.com/p1NiEQFRWSZQsZNKPG
https://on.soundcloud.com/S8meSV3EfUGHHbr5tX
Hello jingzhouhao.
The squeal you're speaking of is typically caused when a player moves slightly past the sweet spot of the bend (moving the tongue a little too far back, up, or both). Try slowing down your bending motion, following the curvature of the roof of your mouth more (starting with your tongue a little more humped to begin with in other words), and move slowly into the bend sweet spot. Slow and controlled is the key.
I was unable to open the sound files. If you would still like me to listen, open a lesson (such as bending study 1) and click on "Submit your recording for feedback" and send it my way.