ejakon
36 posts
Jul 21, 2017
6:03 AM
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Whenever i do one of these tongue trills, like in the opening of Walters Boogie, i find that i cant do it for more than 2 seconds without gasping for air, and blowing then switching back to the trill sounds weird as well.
When i hear James Cotton or Little Walter do them, they seem to do this little thing that makes them breathe in without damaging the melody of their trill, can anyone tell me how to do that or how that works?
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Tommy the Hat
608 posts
Jul 21, 2017
6:37 AM
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Harmonica, being a wind instrument, shares a lot with singing. If you were to research vocal training or singing lessons/advice, one of the first things you would probably come across is breath control. In vocal training they refer to it as "support" or breath support. Throughout ones training the term "support" is never ending. It is one of the most important things, foundation wise for singers.
Blowing and drawing into the harp and being able to phrase and time your notes etc relies on the same thing. You need to learn to breath from the diaphragm and not the chest. Look up breath support. Learn to breath properly. It teaches you how to have enough air and to control the release and pressure of that air. Breath control.
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Tommy
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ejakon
38 posts
Jul 21, 2017
7:08 AM
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That must be it, i did it again and i lasted for about 30 seconds, maybr its just that im really nervous il mess up whenever i do it live
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Tommy the Hat
609 posts
Jul 21, 2017
7:19 AM
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I don't know the particular songs you may be working on but, using timing, you might try figuring out a place to take an in breath (through the mouth) just before a long out breath and the same thing for the other way around. Whether that's through actual notes or even a bit of air over the harp or whatever. The breathing has to be part of the music/timing.
If I run out of air playing the harp I sometimes find it's because I'm trying to to too much and I've got too many notes on top of each other. That's why I like learning good phrasing.
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Tommy
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The Iceman
3269 posts
Jul 21, 2017
7:25 AM
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Try inhaling and exhaling rather than blowing and drawing.
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The Iceman
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ejakon
39 posts
Jul 21, 2017
8:25 AM
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@Tommy
Mostly just the trills people sometimes use as a intro to throwdown blues solos, i was really dissatisfied with the length of time that i pulled off with mine last night.
Also the intro to Walters Boogie is another one i was working on
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Tommy the Hat
610 posts
Jul 21, 2017
9:53 AM
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I hear ya...I'm sure you'll get the hang of it.
As far as Walters Boogie, I wouldn't consider that a trill at the beginning. Although I realize peoples definitions of things vary. I refer to trills or warbles as when I'm moving the harp back and forth quickly between a couple of holes (usually 4 and 5 for me). I'm no expert here but I think Walter is tonging those opening notes. You know, like tapping his tongue on the holes on and off? Maybe some octave playing mixed in too. Not really sure. Never really studied the song. So in that case he is drawing and blowing which would allow good breath control.
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Tommy
Last Edited by Tommy the Hat on Jul 21, 2017 10:08 AM
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Mirco
505 posts
Jul 21, 2017
10:02 AM
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On Walter's Boogie, Big Walter is rapidly taking his tongue on and off the harmonica. The technique is sometimes called "flutter."
The opening to Walter's Boogie can be tough to get through. I've noticed that I run out of breath much more quickly when I'm onstage. My only advice is to play lightly and let the amp do the work for you. Use as little breath as you can.
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Marc Graci
YouTube Channel
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ejakon
40 posts
Jul 21, 2017
10:16 AM
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That was a flutter? ohhh i thought he switched his tongue back and forth at a rapid place, not putting it off and on
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Arrick
68 posts
Jul 21, 2017
10:37 AM
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I'm finally getting my flutter to sound good, but when I try to use it at the end of a song, I run out of air before the rest of the band is done so I either need to sneak in a breath, or stop early (which is a total buzz kill). I think what's happening is that I'm not prepared for it. If I'm alone in my studio and I try to see how long I can hold a note, trill, flutter, whatever....I can hold it a really long time, but I start with a preparatory exhale that I don't get in there in a live performance. I'm trying to be more consious of it so I can be prepared with full lungs rather than 1/2 full. One other note, as I've been working on my flutter, I've found that my headspace was backwards—meaning, I was playing a bit of a chord, then slapping my toungue on the comb to make it flutter. I'm getting better results by starting with my tounge on the comb and lifting it off quickly. It sounds better and is much more efficient. It's the diff between mostly open vs mostly closed on the holes. Does that make any sense? I think that's all part of breath control. I did a few sessions with Ronnie Shellist (highly recommended) and he's encouraging me to play softer. I didn't realize how much air I was wasting with excessive force. Try playing as quiet as you can for a week or two. Like seriously quiet. As quiet as possible while still sounding a note. Then when you go back to regular playing, you'll have much more control over your dynamics.
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nacoran
9534 posts
Jul 21, 2017
12:17 PM
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Posture! Make sure you aren't bent over, and that you are filling your chest with air. You want to regulate how much air is going out with your diaphragm, just like singing.
Also, make sure you think ahead in your song. Harmonica teaches us to keep our lungs partially filled so we have room for draws or blows at any moment. That can get us in trouble if go to attack a long note. You sometimes have to plan ahead where exactly you want to get rid of extra air or take more in. If you've got one note left in the song try to make sure you are either all in or all out for it.
You could also try circular breathing. I'm not great at it, but some people are very, very good at it. Christelle has a video where she plays one note for 5 minutes. In theory, once you have that down you can hold a note forever. (It's easier, I think for blow notes, I think).
And like Arrick says, practice playing at low volume. It helps you learn more about breath control and helps your playing even when you are playing loud.
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Nate
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