Boyen
9 posts
Dec 21, 2014
11:45 AM
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The main problem I'm having with playing harmonica is that I get a lot of resistance from the coverplates. As my lips are dry movement is stiff. When I moisten my lips and/or the harmonica I'm good to go for a minute or so and then back to slow movement. For reference I play the harmonica puckered.
Anyone has a good idea on how to tackle this? I really feel like it's the main thing that has been keeping me down and would love to have tips or ideas on how to improve this.
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SuperBee
2291 posts
Dec 21, 2014
11:54 AM
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Your gonna have to get better at wetting your lips. You think they're unusually dry? I mean, you could try some kinda of Chapstick. Personally I don't like that stuff unless I really need it, but it may help. I play with tongue on comb so I guess this is less likely to be an issue...but also, maybe you are pushing that thing too hard? I don't hear so much lately but there was a time it seemed lots of folk complained of sore lips, even cut lips, from playing.
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Kingley
3785 posts
Dec 21, 2014
12:06 PM
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Unless you have some medical condition which dries out your mouth excessively, then you just need to put the harmonica further into your mouth. If you put your finger on the inside of your lips you'll find it's very moist there. That's the part you want to be using, not the dryer outer part of your lips. If you do a search online you should find plenty of pictorial examples of embouchure, that will help.
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Thievin' Heathen
448 posts
Dec 21, 2014
12:25 PM
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Astroglide. I like the Strawberry.
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Boyen
10 posts
Dec 21, 2014
12:55 PM
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Astroglide in your mouth? Eh..
Harmonica is pretty far in my mouth already, near the teeth, but it gets dry there as well. Maybe I have something that causes it to be dry, nothing that I know of but I do dry out pretty fast. It's annoying as most of the music I'm playing is quite up tempo.
I'll try some vaseline type of stuff and hope I don't ruin the harmonicas that way. Any other suggestions still welcome
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TmickyD1
9 posts
Dec 21, 2014
1:12 PM
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Have you tried drinking more water before playing and in between songs? You could just be dehydrated. I can get pretty dry myself. During an hour gig I'll usually go through about 2 bottles of water.
My reason for getting so dry is I'm diabetic though. High blood sugars leave you really dry mouthed
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Boyen
11 posts
Dec 21, 2014
1:54 PM
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tmicky.. I'm already dry after one tune, also have really dry eyes so maybe this should have some more attention from me.
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Leatherlips
313 posts
Dec 21, 2014
2:01 PM
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At gigs I always have a lemon drink nearby to help with this very problem.
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nacoran
8173 posts
Dec 21, 2014
3:08 PM
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I've got fairly sensitive lips. The longer I've played the less I slide the harp and the less force I use between my lips and the harp. You won't be able to do this for all the holes, but for a minute, pretend your lips are glued to the harmonica. Instead of moving the harmonica side to side, think of your lips as the fulcrum on a teeter totter. See how many single notes you can hit. Also remember that unless you are playing a run your lips don't actually be on the harp when you jump from the 2 hole to the 10 hole. Focus on using the inside surface of your lips instead of the outside surface, and practice, especially with the lower lip, letting the lip scrunch and stay on the harp in one spot. Think of a slow motion video of a boxer getting hit in the face. You are playing with that hole right straight in the front of your mouth, but your lips can go off to the side. In effect you are moving different parts of your lips to the front of your mouth; instead of sliding the harp along your lips you are sliding your lips and the harp along the front of your mouth. No friction. Just practice that a little bit. I don't advocated doing that 100% of the way, but it should help you reduce just how much friction you created. When I play a warble I actually take my top lip off the harp just a tiny bit (not all the way, but enough so there is a partial gap) and just sort of smoosh my bottom lip around. No friction at all.
Also, tongue block occasionally. Nothing like licking your harp to get it lubricated.
(Is there anything harp related that doesn't sound dirty?)
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Nate
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First Post- May 8, 2009
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9000
207 posts
Dec 21, 2014
7:11 PM
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Make sure that you're staying well hydrated.
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Music speaks where words fail.
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