Ask Harmonica Expert Winslow Yerxa

You Got My Vote!

Is it true that bending a note too far down is harder on your harmonica or is this a myth or misunderstanding created from people that are new to bending and using more power to bend further rather than simply changing their embouchure? If it does damage by bending further, why?
-Taylor

Hi Winslow.
I have three questions for you:

I have quit half of the valves of my 270 deluxe, and I have to say that I love to bend the chromatic this way, and the harmonica it is not now as leaky as supposed, but:

How can I make my harmonica more airtight? continue reading...

First hole overblow is very difficult to play and I think it doesn't sound well, even blowed by the better players.
Yesterday I listened a Carlos del Junco song and I think he hitted that note at a song moment, He is a great player but that note was terrible.

My opinion is that overblowers use overblows mainly as passing notes, They don't use to stay very much there, just like people like PTGazell using half valved harmonicas, and I thought: Is a good idea to valve the second hole blow reed in order to obtain the flat third in first position?

Hello, mr. Yerxa, I was wondering if someone could help me out with positions. I currently play in 1st, 2nd, and 3rd position but i want to know how to play in 6th, 7th, 11th,12th etc. i need to know what holes for each position and where the bends are, and that sort of thing.i have searched the web extensively but cant seem to find this.Any help would certainly be appreciated. thank you

Kid P.

Winslow, I took your advice and called Hohner. They told me what i was hearing was typical on 64's because of the weight of the components on the low end of the harp. I suppose I could just use it for a few weeks and see how it goes, then try to get warranty work done before the 60 days is up if it gets worse. What do you think?

I bought a 64 last week and found that the 4 blow with the button in had no response - all other notes were fine. Within two days it was replaced - congrats to the distributor on that. The second 64 has significant "rattle" on the low end and what I would describe as "buzzing" on some holes. I have heard this on an older Hering F chromatic that Rod Piazza gave me to just introduce me to chromatics. I assumed that what I heard in the F was because it was used and Rod could have them replaced easier than fixing issues. continue reading...

Hi Mr. Yerxa.
I don't want to ask you about solo and alternate tunings, but for the tuning numbers for each pitch in chromatic.
I have layouts for just intonation in marine bands but I don't know nothing about the election I have to make in order to tune my chromatic.
Just intonation or equal temperament?
Pitch deviations?

Thanks in advance.

Hi Mr. Winslow.

I am having so much fun with my first chromatics, just now I am following David's first chromatic studies, but I was wondering about How to structure a normal training sessions, Have I to do scales? arpeggios? just playing?

I have read about halving the chromatics. Do you think it is worthy?

I like blues but I like jazz as well. I find Hunter's Jazz Harp a little bit confusing. Can you advice me about any good jazz harmonica instructional material out there?

Have I to forget about books and just train my ear?

Thanks in advance for your answers. continue reading...

Dear Winslow,

Is there a way to gap the reeds so they respond better to bending. I tried gapping my three hole reeds on my MB crossover in C but now it is actually harder to hold a bend on it than it was before I had messed with it. Do I want the reeds further away from the reedplates or closer to the reedplates? Or does it even matter? is it all in my head?

Thanks for your time!