General Discussion

What might I try to improve my ability to quickly get a 2 draw sound out? My 2 draw rarely sounds (still getting used to the "yawning" relaxation of the tongue and throat) and when I can get it to sound it seems like that embouchure makes my 1 draw bend unintentionally.

50 seconds of example practice.

What do y'all recommend I focus on as I practice this lick?

I have spent the last few months switching from lip pursing to tongue blocking and am surprised that it is coming along better than expected based on the the online instructions.  However, I can bend find lip pursing and get a good idea of what my tongue is doing to produce the bend but when I try to bend tongue blocking I'm not having much sucess.  Keeping my tongue on the face of the harp and working my tongue at the same just isnt working.  Any suggestions?  Thanks, Brent

It's just me or the session steel need a little more ufff and puff to play?

30 years ago, I was convinced I was allergic to being married.  My wife insisted I was allergic to the wedding ring.  I stopped wearing my ring so long ago that I forgot about the problem. continue reading...

Any advice you can give on how to tell my dad I'm too stupid to learn how to play the harmonica?

I'll say that I am glad to be back on the site with a new commitement to "deliberate practice"   

my question:  in playing "Leaning on the everlasting arms" first position A flat Golden Meloidy, several times go from 4 blow straight to 3" bend.   I can get the right pitch most of the time but on recording and playback it's always cluncky and rough.  is it just a matter pf practice in smoothing that out or some tip pr trick to get from 4 blow to 3"?

Monty 

I recently watched a video of a fascinating talk given by Lee Sankey on the subject of musicians' mental representations of their instruments (what he terms "brainstruments"). I'd love to hear from other players on this matter if you are willing to share. Do you see some sort of picture in your mind when you play? Does it look like a harmonica, or maybe a keyboard? Or is it something more abstract?

I am some overwhelmed by all of the material presented in Level 1. So I am considering using a dedicated iPad for my harmonica study. It will be a huge advantage to have everything in one spot. I seem to spend more time looking for stuff than I do actually working on it. continue reading...

I have small hands and am having a hard time figuring out to hold the harmonica in the ways the beginning section shows and still get my hands to touch at the palms. If I do the first method how do I move the harmonica as I move down to holes 7 and up it puts my right thumb at hole 5 and 6? Or do I just need to invent a way for it to work for me?

I'd like to be able to transcribe sheet music on my iPad. Can anybody recommend an app for this? Thanks