Andy Ley
113 posts
May 11, 2011
3:04 PM
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I've been trying to nail blow bends for yonks (probably cracking on for 18 months now), and they have always evaded me. To be fair, I've only ever practiced them for short periods at a time, but I did practice them regularly and the little bastards always evaded me.
Today I have another go at blow bends.I used the 1st position blues scale to give some context, put on a jam track in A, pick up my harmonica and play 7 blow up to 8 blow bent.
Straight off, no messing, straight on to that flatted third. I'm, a bit surprised at this, but I didn't question it. I kept playing, 9 draw then back down. Again I hit the bent 8 straight away. I then proceed to bend the 9, slide back to the bent 8, just for good measure I give the 7 a little waggle as well and get the quartertone. 10 gave me a bit more difficulty, but I could bend it, just not quite enough to hit the full tone.
Yesterday I was still practicing them with little success. If anyone has any idea why, after 18 months, I can suddenly blow bend in the space of 24 hours Please let me know!
And if anyone reading this is struggling with something, just plough on with it! it will come.
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bluemoose
543 posts
May 11, 2011
4:00 PM
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relaxed approach with no expectation? At least that's what the Buddha in me would say.
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nacoran
4125 posts
May 11, 2011
4:37 PM
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The harmonica is a hard instrument to demonstrate. If someone shows you how to do something on a guitar you can watch their fingers and try to copy them. If someone tries to explain how to do bends, blow-bends, overblows, whatever, they first have to describe it and then you have to convert that description into action. It's like a game of telephone. Once you get them though it falls into place. I got my first blow bends on my LLF. I think maybe they are easier on lower harps. Once I got them on the LLF though I was able to do them on my normal tuned harps. I had a pretty similar experience with my first regular bend. I got them after hearing Salty Holmes and his talking harmonica and they just clicked. I haven't been as lucky with my overblows. I've got a few here and there but I haven't been able to reliably reproduce them.
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Nate
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Andy Ley
114 posts
May 12, 2011
2:43 AM
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//relaxed approach with no expectation? At least that's what the Buddha in me would say//
That's probably close to the truth. Yesterday was the first time I practiced first position blues properly, and I was probably concentrating on that more than the bending to start with.
@nacoran: How does one play a game of telephone exactly?
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7LimitJI
499 posts
May 12, 2011
3:21 AM
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When you practise anything, you don't really get it.
As you sleep, you're brain is forming new neural pathways of the stuff you practised that day.
Each time you practise and rest more are formed.
Then one day, you just nail the thing thats eluded you, be it in music or sport or whatever.
Its recommended to keep your body and mind fit.
Playing music is one way to keep the brain active.
Crosswords,puzzles,reading are others.
Basic technical explanation here
http://thebrain.mcgill.ca/flash/d/d_07/d_07_cl/d_07_cl_tra/d_07_cl_tra.html
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KingoBad
727 posts
May 12, 2011
6:49 AM
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It is called the Eureka Phenomenon. Your mind does not stop wrestling with what you are putting into it (non conscious), eventually it can work itself out - (not that it always does). Given the right circumstance of practice, environment, desire, etc. it can happen and, of course, be quite surprising when it does.
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Danny
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Fingers
40 posts
May 12, 2011
11:56 AM
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@7limitjl that makes so much sense!! i am an avid speed bag user and i can practice new moves for hours and when i next practice i can use them instantly!! thanks that explains it!! Fingers
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didjcripey
83 posts
May 12, 2011
3:49 PM
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I believe that the harp requires such fine muscle control that many techniques are unattainable to the beginning and intermediate player simply because the muscles have not developed enough to be able to perform them. Its all very well to talk about relaxation etc, which is absolutely true, but you can be as relaxed as you want and still unable to get techniques if the muscle strength and control are not there. I think its also a bit like telling someone to really let go and just feel the music; good advice, but if you don't have the chops, you still won't be able to do it.
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Lucky Lester
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