striderJim
1 post
May 29, 2011
11:44 AM
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Hello everyone. This is my first post to the forum.
I'm two months into learning harmonica, and can do all the draw and blow bends reliably, and with varying degrees of accuracy.......can also hit the 6 OB pretty well, and can get the 4 & 5 OB with difficulty. The 7 OD is sketchy. 9 OD--nothing yet.
So I feel like I'm doing pretty well (I did blow on a harp years ago, but with no particular skill), but am having a problem with 2 & 3 bends--sometimes.
If my mouth is relatively dry, they sound great. But as saliva builds up in the back of my mouth (or on my tongue), I start getting a gurgling sound (when I listen to myself on tape, it's more of a roll or trill).
Wondering if this is something that will resolve itself as I continue to play, or whether I need to alter something about my playing.
I think I have a good embouchure, with harp set fairly deep in my mouth, tipped up at back of harp, and when saliva is not being a problem, I get a good deep tone on the draw bends.
Advice/comments will be appreciated.
thanks,
strider
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KingoBad
750 posts
May 29, 2011
7:14 PM
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Of course posting a sample of your playing would help us hear what is going on.
You can always give yourself a pause to swallow and clear your throat. If you never come up for air you are playing too much anyway.
Some people enjoy putting a growl in their playing. Many People will actually work to get that growling sound. Consider it another easy accomplishment in you playing.
Perhaps you could also learn to play with a little less breath force. You may just be applying too much force in your bends.
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Danny
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nacoran
4155 posts
May 29, 2011
7:35 PM
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It will probably resolve itself. I'm not sure what adjustments you make, but it seems lots of players slobber a lot when they start and less as they've been playing longer, although I haven't heard anyone explaining any adjustments they've made. Maybe some of it is learning to notice you are getting to much spit going before it gets out of hand and swallowing during a pause, or maybe as you play more you learn you don't need to play not stop, which gives you more breaks to swallow in.
One thing you can watch out for is dairy. Dairy tends to make you produce more phlegm so it's good to avoid dairy for about an hour or so before you play (or sing, or read radio announcements.) Sugary drinks and food can also make a mess of the harp and anything that makes your mouth water will, by definition mean more spit. If you are going to have them make sure you have some water to swish out with on hand. Most of it goes away though the more you play.
Congratulations on the OB's! I've been playing over three years and I only occasionally can squeak or whistle; it's like listening to R2D2 hung over.
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Nate
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striderJim
3 posts
Jun 01, 2011
7:08 PM
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Thank you, guys, for the response.
I think it's getting a little less bothersome.
I'm more interested in jazz and pop standards, and that
requires clear bends.
thx again,
strider
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thescip
7 posts
Jun 02, 2011
9:22 AM
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I'm going to go with nacoran on this one. I've been playing for about 5 years and when I started I had a major problem with saliva but the more I played the better it got. It's not really a problem now at all. Hang in there and stick with it!
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striderJim
4 posts
Jun 03, 2011
4:15 AM
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Thanks, thescip. That gives me encouragement.
It sounds like something that will resolve itself without
my knowing exactly how or why it did so.
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