Ask Harmonica Expert Winslow Yerxa

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?

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

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!

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 ?

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

Toxic Plastic or nickel for example? 

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...

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

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

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?

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...