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Dirty-South Blues Harp forum: wail on! >
choppy playing
choppy playing
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99
22 posts
Aug 07, 2011
8:59 PM
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Does anyone know a way to make notes slide and transition into each other in a smooth manner. I can hit the notes and make the bends, but they are so choppy. In some songs, it sounds alright, but at times, I'm looking for a more fluid sound for riffs. Thanks, as this is a great source of information. -- 99
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KingoBad
815 posts
Aug 07, 2011
9:25 PM
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We need a sample...
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Danny
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REM
96 posts
Aug 07, 2011
9:42 PM
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This is just something that takes a lot of practice. The harmonica isn't going to able to create the same type of smooth/legato lines that some other instruments, like the saxophone, are able to. A sax player can just blow a solid continuous stream of air and just move there fingers to create smooth lines. But the harmonica requires you to regularly change breath direction as wel as move from on hole to another. All of this combined can make it difficult to play smooth/legato lines.
While the harmonica may not be able to play as smoothly as a sax, you can still pay smoothly on the harmonica with enough practice. I remember getting frustrated when listening to recordings of my playing, because it sounded very choppy. After listening I realised that I sounded the most choppy when switching holes while at the same time changes breath direction (for example: going from 5draw to 6blow). I eventually realised that as I was changing breath direction, I would unconsiously stop my breathing for a split second. What I did (and you should do as well) is practice just slowly breathing in and out, creating a smooth transition and with out stopping the movement of breath (even for a split second) while chsnging breath direction. Then pick up the harmonica and practice doing this with chords. You'll want to really concentrate on make the smoothest transition possible, and concentrate on never letting your breath stop. Eventually it will become seond nature and you won't need to think about it, but for now you need to concentrate on it and practice it.
After you got that down, do the same thing while playing a single hole (instead of chords). Remember, keep the transitions between blow and draww as smooth as possible. After this, you can start working on the hardest part, switching breath direction while switching to a different hole. So start on 5draw then go to 6 blow. Don't let your breath stop as you make the transition from blow to draw. You may end up hitting the 5 blow for a split second as your moving to the 6 blow, but this is okay, at least you know you'e keeping constant breath movement. Eventually, with practice, you'll be able to make the transition with out hitting that extra note, but don't worry about it to much at first. Just concentrate on make the breath transition smooth and immediate. Also practice going from blow to draw (for example 7blow to 8 draw), as well as changing holes in both direction (so practice going from hole 5 to hole 6, As well as from a hole 6 to hole 5. Changing breath direction both ways, blow to draw, ad draw to blow).
I hope this helps. It really just takes a lot of practice, there's no special secret to playing smoothly, just hard work.
Last Edited by on Aug 07, 2011 9:42 PM
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99
23 posts
Aug 08, 2011
9:30 AM
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Rem- Thanks for your reply as it was very informative. I will try to do as you say, and with enough practice, I might be able to improve. As of now, I am not set up to include a sample. -- Thanks again-99
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dukeofwail
40 posts
Aug 08, 2011
5:17 PM
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Recording and evaluating yourself is most valuable, too. Probably would lead to clear discoveries about your playing.
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Robert Hale
Learn Harmonica via Webcam
Low Rates, High Results
http://www.dukeofwail.com
DUKEofWAIL YouTube
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12gagedan
119 posts
Aug 09, 2011
3:36 PM
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This may sound counterintuitive, but don't think so much while you're playing. I think lack of flow is either lack of experience and/or too much pre-thought about what to play, or a combination of both.
If you're really going to flow on stage, you have to have done enough work/practice someplace else; either with focused practice or prior performances/experience.
At some point, in the heat of the moment, you must trust all that work, and just let it come. Worrying about each note, or how the next solo is going to go, just adds to the problem of chop, or lack of flow.
Afterwards, with recordings, you can go back to obsessively thinking about every single note. In that moment, though, you just have to go for it.
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12gagedan's YouTube Channel
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Cristal Lecter
87 posts
Aug 09, 2011
4:04 PM
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Don't use your tongue to attack the notes, but let them sing instead...Use the diaphragm...
Just like a 100 metres runner, avoid anything that can be a waste of energy, smooth development of feet and legs, avoiding any hard contact with the ground....Do you see the metaphor?
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Never try to be as good as someone else, succeed to be the best player you can be!
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Andy Ley
150 posts
Aug 11, 2011
4:21 AM
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Have to agree with 12gagedan there. The first time I went to a jam I had nothing to prove, I knew none of the people there, and I was relativly confident that I knew the limits of my ability to play the harmonica.
I relaxed, I played within my limits and I just let it flow. I knew where I wanted to start and finish each phrase, but didn't overthink where I went in between. My playing that night, even to me (my own harshest critic) sounded smooth and musical, even if the phrasing was quite simple.
The second time I went I wanted to make sure I played as well, if not better than the time before. I tried to structure each part of the phrases I was playing. I tried to push my limits of tempo. I forced myself to use the whole range of the harmonica, The playing that night was (to me) hesitant, choppy, less coherent, and much less suited to the music than it had been before.
Won't be making that mistake again!
Last Edited by on Aug 11, 2011 4:24 AM
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