Success!

[Elmo' 7#9]

After 15 years of playing the harmonica, I can finally do a whole-tone draw
bend in the 2nd hole!

Before now, I've had to pinch my nose to hit this note.

I'd become convinced that I didn't have the physical resources to bend the
note (no problems on other holes, perfect chromatic control over hole 3).

Not having access to a guitar forced me to play a lot more harmonica than
usual.

Four weeks of 15 minutes practice, twice a day, got me to a point where it
was just starting to happen by accident (with a lot of pig-like grunting
while inhaling), then in the middle of last week, I could do it reliably.

I'm delighted!

My suction has improved so much that I'm able to control bends on my other
harps, that I'd previously found stiff and unresponsive. My tone is
noticeably more solid and horn-like, too.

I'd been suffering from "Light User Syndrome" - not playing regularly enough
to develop a strong technique.


Elmo' 7#9

[RPM1]

Post by Elmo' 7#9
After 15 years of playing the harmonica, I can finally do a whole-tone draw
bend in the 2nd hole!
Before now, I've had to pinch my nose to hit this note.

<snip>

Post by Elmo' 7#9
I'd been suffering from "Light User Syndrome" - not playing regularly enough
to develop a strong technique.

Congrats! I recently made the jump to being able to get the 1 1/2 step bend
on the 3 draw. I think you'll find that the 2 draw whole step bend will
take less and less effort. It actually doesn't take that much effort once
you have the technique. I've found that, (as others pointed out to me),
that your embouchure is much more important than you think it could ever be.
Now that you can hit the whole step bend on 2 draw, try to get it with less
and less effort. I don't think you'll get good tone or throat vibrato if
you are putting a lot of effort into the bend.

I've found that doing triplets on the 2 hole help. Try 2 draw unbent, 2
draw bent a hole step, 2 blow, repeat... Try it fast and slow. Relax.

Have fun!
Patrick

p.s. Here's a cool song that sounds simple but I'm having trouble with the
chorus riff. Any thoughts anyone?

[Elmo' 7#9]

Post by RPM1
I've found that, (as others pointed out to me),
that your embouchure is much more important than you think it could ever be.

Nothing has changed in my embouchre to bring this about,
but there was a *DEFINITE* tingling sensation in the soft palate
above the back of my tongue as it started happening for me.

If, like me, you could get the bend with the *nose pinched*
but never with a *natural* airway,
the problem was quite obviously in the back of the mouth
rather than at the lips.

I STILL find it odd that I could control draw 3 through its entire range and
*not* draw 2

.
Elmo' 7#9

[Chromatonic]

Post by RPM1
p.s. Here's a cool song that sounds simple but I'm having trouble with the
chorus riff. Any thoughts http://youtu.be/wyv3hiILNCI

That's a sweet video!
You can hear another (almost identical) version here:
http://lib.store.yahoo.net/lib/musicmakerstore/PrisonBlues.mp3
Neil Pattman is playing an A harmonica, second position, key of E
He's using chords extensively, but if you wanted to isolate single
notes, you could play it:
6B 5D 5D, 4D, 5 4D,-3D 3D (comma = 1/2-step bend)
Those 1/2-step bends are a little tricky, because he's hitting them
without easing into them just nailing the bend right on.
-C

[RPM1]

Post by Chromatonic

Post by RPM1
p.s. Here's a cool song that sounds simple but I'm having trouble with the
chorus riff. Any thoughts
http://youtu.be/wyv3hiILNCI

That's a sweet video!
http://lib.store.yahoo.net/lib/musicmakerstore/PrisonBlues.mp3
Neil Pattman is playing an A harmonica, second position, key of E
He's using chords extensively, but if you wanted to isolate single
6B 5D 5D, 4D, 5 4D,-3D 3D (comma = 1/2-step bend)
Those 1/2-step bends are a little tricky, because he's hitting them
without easing into them just nailing the bend right on.
-C

He plays it so fast and so "crisp", it's going to take me a long time to get
it, but it's good practice!

Thanks,
Patrick

[Butcherknife]

Post by RPM1
He plays it so fast and so "crisp", it's going to take me a long time to get
it, but it's good practice!
Thanks,
Patrick

Neil is a one arm harmonica player and does quite well.
he never let his handicap get in his way.
Deford Bailey also played with one arm not because of
any handicap. Deford claimed it was the best way to hold
the harmonica.

For and old time country and blues style one arm playing
can have its advantages in some ways.

[Zoran]

2nd hole is easiest bending hole on diatonic, this is really easy, but
overblow is dificult!

Post by Elmo' 7#9
After 15 years of playing the harmonica, I can finally do a whole-tone draw
bend in the 2nd hole!
Before now, I've had to pinch my nose to hit this note.
I'd become convinced that I didn't have the physical resources to bend the
note (no problems on other holes, perfect chromatic control over hole 3).
Not having access to a guitar forced me to play a lot more harmonica than
usual.
Four weeks of 15 minutes practice, twice a day, got me to a point where it
was just starting to happen by accident (with a lot of pig-like grunting
while inhaling), then in the middle of last week, I could do it reliably.
I'm delighted!
My suction has improved so much that I'm able to control bends on my other
harps, that I'd previously found stiff and unresponsive. My tone is
noticeably more solid and horn-like, too.
I'd been suffering from "Light User Syndrome" - not playing regularly enough
to develop a strong technique.
Elmo' 7#9

[Elmo' 7#9]

Post by Zoran
2nd hole is easiest bending hole on diatonic, this is really easy, but
overblow is dificult!

Easy for you, perhaps.

I STILL find it odd that I could control draw 3 through its entire range and
*not* draw 2.

I dream of the day when I can play a diatonic harp CHROMATICALLY.

I've read and understood the theory,
I *know* it's possible,
but I don't know if *I'm* willing to put in sufficient time...

Guitar is still my #1 instrument.

Harmonica is for filling-in breaks in work while my colleagues wreck their
lungs with nicotine!


Elmo' 7#9

[Keith Adams]

It sounds to me like the cat on Prison Blues dont even know how to play a
damned harp. .Being shy an arm aint much of a handicap for a harp player .
Maybe missing a lip or half a tongue? Hitler had a little old raisin of a
nut and by god he couldnt play a harp. He did get some free Stalin Organ
lessons though. Dont think he much cared for their sound?

Post by Elmo' 7#9
After 15 years of playing the harmonica, I can finally do a whole-tone draw
bend in the 2nd hole!
Before now, I've had to pinch my nose to hit this note.
I'd become convinced that I didn't have the physical resources to bend the
note (no problems on other holes, perfect chromatic control over hole 3).
Not having access to a guitar forced me to play a lot more harmonica than
usual.
Four weeks of 15 minutes practice, twice a day, got me to a point where it
was just starting to happen by accident (with a lot of pig-like grunting
while inhaling), then in the middle of last week, I could do it reliably.
I'm delighted!
My suction has improved so much that I'm able to control bends on my other
harps, that I'd previously found stiff and unresponsive. My tone is
noticeably more solid and horn-like, too.
I'd been suffering from "Light User Syndrome" - not playing regularly enough
to develop a strong technique.
Elmo' 7#9

[Keith Adams]

Hey Elmo. Bending them notes is pretty easy. Say EEEE while drawing in and
change it to OOOOH while still drawing in. You've got a bend.

Post by Elmo' 7#9
After 15 years of playing the harmonica, I can finally do a whole-tone draw
bend in the 2nd hole!
Before now, I've had to pinch my nose to hit this note.
I'd become convinced that I didn't have the physical resources to bend the
note (no problems on other holes, perfect chromatic control over hole 3).
Not having access to a guitar forced me to play a lot more harmonica than
usual.
Four weeks of 15 minutes practice, twice a day, got me to a point where it
was just starting to happen by accident (with a lot of pig-like grunting
while inhaling), then in the middle of last week, I could do it reliably.
I'm delighted!
My suction has improved so much that I'm able to control bends on my other
harps, that I'd previously found stiff and unresponsive. My tone is
noticeably more solid and horn-like, too.
I'd been suffering from "Light User Syndrome" - not playing regularly enough
to develop a strong technique.
Elmo' 7#9

[Elmo' 7#9]

Post by Keith Adams
Hey Elmo. Bending them notes is pretty easy. Say EEEE while drawing in and
change it to OOOOH while still drawing in. You've got >a bend.

Except when the bend you're getting falls short of the limit.

On a C harp...
I've been bending down to an F# from G in hole 2 for the last 10 years and
no amount of practice was helping get any lower - the bend always bottomed
out at F#.

Currently, I can hit (and sustain) the F or F# using my new-found
super-suction powers but can't yet glide smoothly between them.

Sometimes I aim for the F# and the bend automatically hits the buffers at F
and stays there
(opposite problem from the original!)

Hole 3 is (and always has been) a different matter,
B down to G# and all points in between,
played like a police siren if necessary
or stepwise chromatically, even during trills.

Whatever the problem was, it's academic now...

I'm sure that another couple of weeks
of practice will see me confidently dialing-in
the right note on demand.

For now, I'm just delighted to have a complete
Cmajor scale in the bottom octave!

Elmo' 7#9