Chris L
13 posts
Oct 10, 2013
6:21 PM
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Is there an optimum gap for blow bends? Is it the same theory as for the draw bends at the bottom end? I am mainly concerned with the 10 blow which works very differently from harp to harp.
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arzajac
1178 posts
Oct 10, 2013
6:32 PM
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Here is my list of reasons why it can be hard to hit the blow bends on the 10 hole:
10 - embouchure
9 - embouchure
8 - embouchure
7 - airtightness
6 - embouchure
5 - reed shape/profile
4 - embouchure
3 - embouchure
2 - gap
1 - embouchure
Basically, if your harp is leaky, if the reeds are not shaped well, if the gapping is too loose or if you have trouble with your embouchure, you are going to have trouble with the 10 hole blow bends.
My point here is that you can get frustrated trying to gap because the cause of the problem my have nothing to do with gapping.
That being said, you can gap the 10 hole pretty tightly (or what appears to be tight by eye), but the reed will still play. You will know when you gap it too tight because the reed will stick.
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Custom overblow harps. Harmonica service and repair.
Last Edited by arzajac on Oct 10, 2013 6:34 PM
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Frank
2976 posts
Oct 10, 2013
6:33 PM
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Remember your dealing with very tiny and extremely thin reeds on those holes...So, though gap is important - 99.9% of bending ease on 8,9, and 10 is going to come from proper execution of technique :)
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Chris L
14 posts
Oct 10, 2013
10:09 PM
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Thanks guys! I can always count on sound advice here. I will work on technique on harps on which I know I can hit the notes, until I can sustain a clean accurate bend, and then worry about tinkering with an otherwise responsive instrument.
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GMaj7
294 posts
Oct 11, 2013
12:37 AM
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Just nudge the draw side reeds into the slot a little with your thumb and you will be surprised at how much easier it is to play blow bends. Blow bends use both reeds
EDITED: I mistakenly said "BLOW" side when I meant draw side. The blow bend will work much better with the draw reed tightly gapped
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Greg Jones
16:23 Custom Harmonicas
greg@1623customharmonicas.com
1623customharmonicas.com
Last Edited by GMaj7 on Oct 11, 2013 5:53 AM
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SuperBee
1474 posts
Oct 11, 2013
12:52 AM
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I've actually been opening mine up a bit. I was learning to play them tongue blocked and was having trouble with the draw reed clogging up from spit when I practice. At first. Anyway, now they're cool. And I don't spit so much.
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GMaj7
295 posts
Oct 11, 2013
5:55 AM
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In my earlier post, I have meant to say and have since corrected..
Nudge the draw side reeds into slot a little. The blow bends will come out much cleaner with a tighter draw side gap since both reeds work together in a blow bend on holes 7-10.
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Greg Jones
16:23 Custom Harmonicas
greg@1623customharmonicas.com
1623customharmonicas.com
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MP
2965 posts
Oct 11, 2013
12:45 PM
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GMaj7,
"Nudge the draw side reeds into slot a little. The blow bends will come out much cleaner with a tighter draw side gap since both reeds work together in a blow bend on holes 7-10."
A resounding YES!
i'd forgotten how much time i'd wasted adjusting and embossing blow 10 when a little push on draw 10 would have done the trick.
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MP
affordable reed replacement and repairs.
"making the world a better place, one harmonica at a time"
click user name [MP] for info-
repair videos on YouTube.
you can reach me via Facebook. Mark Prados
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Chris L
15 posts
Oct 14, 2013
1:58 PM
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With all due respect (and I mean that sincerely)to those who correctly emphasized the need for (impatient intermediate players like me to) focus on emboucher and patient practice, I have to say, I tried the advice from GMaj7 and MP. And Wow!
An A Blues harp from which I could previously produce only a wavering squawk from the 10 hole blow now can produce a clean sustainable two step bend. Sweet!
Sincere Thanks to Everybody who shared!
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MP
2967 posts
Oct 14, 2013
2:13 PM
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@ Chris L,
Greg nailed it. I only agreed. cool. :-)
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MP
affordable reed replacement and repairs.
"making the world a better place, one harmonica at a time"
click user name [MP] for info-
repair videos on YouTube.
you can reach me via Facebook. Mark Prados
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harpdude61
1864 posts
Oct 14, 2013
4:10 PM
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Chris, great stuff here about blow bend set up. Can I offer one more bit of advice about blow bends. Try to learn them without using the jaw as a hinge and shrinking your resonator. In other words, don't close your mouth to get the blow bend. Depending on your style, use either the throat or tongue to get the blow bend. This will make it easier later on to hit the hole already bent without hitting the unbent note first. The tone is also better and it also offers faster movement between pitches. Makes the two blow bends of the 10 hole more clean and precise as well.
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Frank
3014 posts
Oct 14, 2013
4:30 PM
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And it's never too late to begin tongue block bending the upper register...It's good to have that in your arsenal - using the TB instead of LB gives a different flavor that comes in handy on a lot of tunes and of course where 1st pos is a choice. I'm not promoting abandoning the lib block method for high end bends - its a great embouchure for high bends...just that it's never too late to begin strengthening the TB bending up there - you'll be glad you did :)
Last Edited by Frank on Oct 14, 2013 4:37 PM
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Chris L
16 posts
Oct 14, 2013
8:12 PM
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@Frank: Hi Frank! TB is actually my "first language", so to speak. I just started Lip blocking this spring and up until then had never used any method of playing single notes other than Tongue Block. When I got my first harp I read that there were two ways to make single notes and chose the easier. (Nobody said it would make learning proper bends far more difficult.) I worked out controlled TB bends over the last two-three years. I still have much to master with TB.
All of which is to say, I will be putting in the time to get LB bends as my "second language". Right now my LB bends on 1-6 are sloppy and I can't LB bend on 10 at all. TB bends are all I can really control at present. But I will be learning as I like LB articulation options and I am beginning to realize LB may eventually make for better sounding Over-bending.
BTW: "Effortless Mastery" is an excellent read! Thanks for recommending it!
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