DannyRanch
3 posts
Aug 25, 2014
9:11 AM
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Hi, I'm kinda "new" to the site, I've been following it for a couple of years, and being on and off with Mr. Gussow lessons and always learn a thing or two on the forum, but I signed up recently.
I've noticed a problem and I believe the source should be my playing/embouchure
I've been playing for 2 years and a half, approximately.
One of those days I was playing on a Special 20 practicing some Bluegrass chops I was learning on, but then the 7 blow just died, the reed just broke.
And two months later a Marine Band Crossover the 5 draw went out of tune meanwhile I was on a jam session.
I went home and tried to re tune it but it was already broke.
When I was learning to Overblow I detuned a Marine Band twice but I was able to fix it
I've taken some video lessons, read books about adjusting harps and tune them, and recently I contacted some guy that has given me excellent tips to work harps.
And I learned messing around with cheap Blues Bands
So what the heck I'm doing wrong?
I'm not using crappy harps, those were good savings! Of course I still have them, I'm just waiting to get some tools and put them a replacement reed, but what could be the reason of my harps to be dying out there?
I've been following the Tone clinic lesson from Mr. Gussow,
and I'm now able to produce a warm tone, but I'm afraid of quitting harp because I break em all lol
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KingoBad
1521 posts
Aug 25, 2014
9:32 AM
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You're playing too hard. You need to work on your resonance for volume, not blowing harder. That also means bending to the right intonation, and not to the floor. The 5 draw has only so far to go. Also learn to be efficient with your overblows. If you are using lots of force to get them to "pop" you need to adjust your harp or refine your technique.
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Danny
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arzajac
1451 posts
Aug 25, 2014
10:18 AM
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I highly recommend taking a few face-to-face lessons with an experienced harp pro/teacher in your area. Playing too hard is one of many bad habits that can be broken quite easily.
The problem is that nobody but an instructor will be able to point these bad habits out to you.
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Custom overblow harps. Harmonica service and repair.
Last Edited by arzajac on Aug 25, 2014 10:18 AM
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The Iceman
1947 posts
Aug 25, 2014
10:26 AM
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7 hole exhale and 5 hole inhale, eh?
You are bending to the floor and trying to push past the limit of the reed, thereby over stressing it and blowing it out.
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The Iceman
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GMaj7
510 posts
Aug 25, 2014
10:59 AM
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The 7 blow is common because it is a root note in 1st position and a lot of times it gets hit on the downbeat, especially in fiddle/Irish/bluegrass. It usually gets hit a little harder.
The 5 draw happens because players try to bend it past what can be bent and it goes into a single reed bend. On a draw 5, that is a lot of stress on that reed.
Re-tuning a flat reed almost never works. The reed usually has a fracture at the base that starts expanding
Reed failure is just something we harp players have to deal with like strings on a guitar.
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Greg Jones
16:23 Custom Harmonicas
greg@1623customharmonicas.com
1623customharmonicas.com
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DannyRanch
4 posts
Aug 25, 2014
11:11 AM
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Wow
Thanks for all the replies.
Taking notes, good to know all of this stuff.
I remember the time a friend took a harp (without my authorization) and same story broken reed. Lesson was learnt and nobody touches my harps no more.
Sad (funny thing) is that in my country there are only three "remarkable players" (including myself)
I know them personally so will try to catch them up for a harp talk session.
I've been working seriously on breaking all bad habits but you know some have strong roots and are harder to break, but this is now on my To do list.
Thanks!
Any more info will be highly appreciated
Edit: Yeah, I agree with the string comparison, but changing strings is way cheaper than fixing a harp or getting a new one! so lets avoid damaging them from now on lol
Edit 2: About the Overblows I been working with them hard.
But I can only get them on a C Marine band and a Bb Golden Melody.
The C harp has been adjusted so good that I can play them smoothly, and even a pair of Overdraws, but with the rest of the harps I sill need to work with both: adjustment and technique as it is still kinda tricky.
Last Edited by DannyRanch on Aug 25, 2014 11:34 AM
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The Iceman
1950 posts
Aug 25, 2014
11:37 AM
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don't worry about OB till you get your regular bending under control . (don't bend through the floor, etc)
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The Iceman
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GEEZER1
216 posts
Aug 25, 2014
4:11 PM
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No question , its playing too hard. I used to blow them out all the time, but play through an amp now and haven't blown one out since. always the same reed. Lighten up on the deep bending.
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1847
2087 posts
Aug 25, 2014
4:25 PM
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the harmonica is a toy
toys break... get over it
or get a real hobby.... like golf.
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i get a lot of request when i play my harmonica
"but i play it anyway"
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nacoran
7958 posts
Aug 25, 2014
5:41 PM
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"Edit: Yeah, I agree with the string comparison, but changing strings is way cheaper than fixing a harp or getting a new one! so lets avoid damaging them from now on lol"
Try telling that to a bass player! :)
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Nate
Facebook
Thread Organizer (A list of all sorts of useful threads)
First Post- May 8, 2009
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Barley Nectar
495 posts
Aug 26, 2014
4:31 AM
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Since I started playing amplified 20 yrs ago, some harmonica will last for years. You are playing too hard. This is common for beginners. Harmonicas are not loud instruments. They are a lot cheaper than golf clubs though...BN
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dougharps
724 posts
Aug 26, 2014
8:07 AM
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Playing too hard... been there, done that. They last a lot longer for me now than when I was learning.
Still slip up sometimes if I can't properly hear myself on stage, or if I am playing acoustically in a noisy environment, for example the hallway at SPAH.
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Doug S.
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DannyRanch
5 posts
Aug 26, 2014
9:56 AM
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Ok, took notes, thanks for all the help, will focus on volume and tonal control.
I've been exaggerating, I have break 4 harps in the 2 years and a half I've been playing, the first 2 where a couple of months after I started with bending the first time for the issues being mentioned here.
But the other 2 were broken recently, one month apart from each other. the 5 draw it could be in fact that I'm still bending down the floor but the 7 blow could be related to poor adjusted reeds as I was playing bluegrass on 1P with no bends on the high register.
I have an acoustic cover here:
I don't know if it helps to hear anything related to what we have been discussing here.
Any feedback is highly appreciated (take in mind I don't sing like at all)
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Slimharp
393 posts
Aug 26, 2014
10:22 AM
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Pretty dam good for 2.5 years. 1. Work on your timing. 2. Slow down and play on the beat or behind it. 3 Play what you feel, not necessarily what you are copying. Mix it up, synthesize. 4. Use vibrato as an enhancement, not a feature in of itself.5. Dont worry about over blows and over draws too much. This is not a race. Focus on the feeling of what you are playing. If you dont feel it dont play it. 6. Slow down. 7. Keep up the good work.
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DannyRanch
6 posts
Aug 27, 2014
10:53 AM
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Great! thanks for the Feedback Slim! Will definately work on it!
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Martin
676 posts
Aug 27, 2014
4:08 PM
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Don´t count too heavily on the "Don´t Play Hard" principle and that it´s easy to learn or that it will work.
I´ve been playing for a Long Time and I break harps All The Time.
It´s a curse. An expensive curse. You can always consider changing instrument before you get hooked.
(The string comparison is of course completely irrelevant, unless meaning "strings break, so do harmonica reeds.")
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SuperBee
2173 posts
Aug 28, 2014
7:01 AM
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I understand too well what you mean M
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