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Ask Harmonica Expert Winslow Yerxa

Questions regarding harmonica models, styles, technique, history... pretty much anything!

Steel reeds harder to play as steel is harder than brass?

Posted Sun, 04/15/2018 - 22:19 by Erin303
Erin303's picture

I bought a Seydel 1847 and a Seydel session Steel and for both of them I have the feeling that I have to use more ‘pressure’ to get out the tones. I think the reed gaps are ok. None get stuck and no tone comes late like with a too big gap. Is it possible that it just feels heavier because steel is harder than brass and therefore harder to move or is it indeed a gapping problem?

  • 12 comments

Sonny Terry with Brownie McGhee

Posted Sat, 04/07/2018 - 12:01 by mainmark
mainmark's picture

Hello Winslow;

 I was wondering, as I don't have any of their music yet, (Sonny Terry with Brownie McGhee), if Sonny played acoustic or amplified harp or both, both performing and/or recording. Also when Sonny recorded solo.

 

Thanks

  • 2 comments

Larry Adler Signature 64 vs. Hohner 280/64

Posted Thu, 03/22/2018 - 05:11 by raifaamin
raifaamin's picture

Hi!

I think this is the place where I can ask about harmonica models.

Hohner 280/64 and Larry Adler Signature 64 - apart from covers and may be the outer box, they are pretty much identical in dimensions. Hohner C-shop says they use identical comb, mouthpiece and slide parts. Do you know if there's any difference in reed work between those two harmonicas? Like Crossover and MB Deluxe have interchangable reeds but they're still different. Is that the case in LAS 64 and 280/64 reed plates? 

 

Thanks!

  • 1 comment

harmonica with covers on checking tuning 440?

Posted Tue, 03/20/2018 - 11:20 by Thankyou
Thankyou's picture

Hi

 

I am not talking about tuning itself , I am talking about checking the tuning of a harmonica  with covers on just to check to see if tuning is ok

 

 

IN THIS case what my tuner settings should be  440? or 442 ?

 

 

 

  • 9 comments

Can some cheap harmonica be bad for health?

Posted Sat, 03/17/2018 - 13:38 by Thankyou
Thankyou's picture

Can some cheap harmonicas have materials that might be bad for health or dangerous ?

Toxic Plastic or nickel for example? 

  • 2 comments

Playing harmonica with guitar and harmonica choice ...

Posted Thu, 03/15/2018 - 00:21 by Thankyou
Thankyou's picture

 

 

I play harmonica with guitar and it is very important for me to play together.

 I have found out some harmonicas make it easier for me .

 A harmonica that is soft and I can create sound with little effort because I have to put it on a rack 

and I can draw it deep in my mouth it needs to create sound with little effort.

 Among some harmonicas I find suzuki promaster easier to play .

  

What is your idea about this?

  continue reading...

  • 8 comments

Just Started - Not sure How to do a “WA” sound?

Posted Wed, 03/14/2018 - 20:02 by kosmicdream
kosmicdream's picture

I just started harmonica (and music as well actually!) and I am using a Hohner Blues Harp Ms- Series, A Key. continue reading...

My harmonica tuner setting

Posted Wed, 03/07/2018 - 06:33 by Thankyou
Thankyou's picture

I am trying to work on harmonica tuning . In my iphone tuner app I can see

 

https://photos.app.goo.gl/y1R7qJCgsfhQy4wl1

 

What should I choose?  

 

I am going to tune Manji diatonic,  Hohner marine band

 

  • 3 comments

Did my first overblow today but

Posted Sun, 02/25/2018 - 21:25 by Thankyou
Thankyou's picture

Today I managed to do my first overblow :)On Bb Marine band however no matter how much I try I can't do it on 4 and 5 holeThe strange thing is that when I try to make the 5 hole do overblow I see 4 hole pops up ... Any Idea?

  • 2 comments

Bending problem

Posted Fri, 02/16/2018 - 19:10 by ivaan_ramos
ivaan_ramos's picture

Hi

i have a problem with bending:

i can bend from a half step to a full bend ok, but if i try to do the reverse, bend from the full bend to a half step bend (or to no bend), a "gap" happens, no sound between the notes.

exemple:

draw hole 3: 3 -> 3' -> 3'' -> 3''' ok, no gap, the sound flows constinuously

drae hole 3 (reverse): 3''' -> 3'' -> gap, no sound, interruption -> 3' -> 3

it happens more in holes 2 and 3 (A tuning promaster no valves). continue reading...

  • 6 comments
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