Tommy the Hat
211 posts
Aug 19, 2011
8:22 AM
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In a recent post I asked about a harp to carry in my pocket/car. I mentioned that I have a Marine Band in C at the moment that I keep in my car or pocket. I'm still very new to this so I've been practicing a lot and because I drive so much a lot of it has been on that Marine band and not on my SP20's which I use on the weekends.
Today just for the hell of it I brought my Delta Frost with me in the key of D. I also played a SP 20. Wow! what a difference. It is as if playing the Marine band was like lifting weights! I've gotten stronger or something...the other harps are so much easier to play now and licks I fought with on the MB just came out smoothly on the Delta Frost and SP 20.
I think it's time to pack that MB away for awhile. I really like it but at this point, being in the learning stage it's slowing me down. I have to fight with the 3 draw and that means I'm not always on pitch with bends. I need to develop a regular feel and that is better done on the harps I'm actually going to play, not one that works half assed and I only practice on in the car. It's throwing my practice off.
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Tommy
Bronx Mojo
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RT123
209 posts
Aug 19, 2011
8:29 AM
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try any suzuki and you will be hooked!
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KingBiscuit
88 posts
Aug 19, 2011
8:35 AM
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Perhaps it's not the marine band but the fact that you are practicing a lot. At least for me, different keys react differently not matter what the brand. For a long time, I practiced on an A harp only and when I was playing a jam, the other keys seemed more difficult. Now, I have harps in the car and all over the house so I have one close at hand when I want to practice. These are a variety of keys and brands, just whatever I had. I've found, in my opinion, that practicing on a variety of keys and brands is better than just 1 key, 1 brand. I think it helps "fine tune" the muscle memory.
For what it's worth,
Dan
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Tommy the Hat
212 posts
Aug 19, 2011
8:45 AM
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I had em' all in the car today and was flipping back and forth between them and the SP 20's were so much easier to play the same riffs. I mean they were easy before and I'm sure all the practice has made a difference. But some of the things I've been practicing still need practice on the MB while now they are much much better on the other harps. Just an observation.
When I practice at home I go through all the keys at various times. I find different backing tracks. Although some keys get more play than others. But that seems to be a type of music and sound preference rather than an ease of playing thing. I like deeper/darker, bluesier tones so I like A-D with D being at the border of too high for my taste. D just makes it. I don't like G...too low. And F is way to high. I like "dark." lol
Ok....I've strayed from the topic of MB vs SP 20...lol.
Like I said....just an observation for me.
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Tommy
Bronx Mojo
Last Edited by on Aug 19, 2011 8:46 AM
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florida-trader
49 posts
Aug 19, 2011
8:54 AM
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Amen on the Suzukis.
I think it is safe to say that you could take ten theoretically identical brand new OOTB harps and you will find some that play well and some that play poorly. I grew up playing the clarinet and whenever I got a new box of reeds I would play every one of them and sort them out according to how well they played. Obviously I used the ones that played well and the others I tucked away. At a later date, I was often pleasantly surprised that when I pulled out one of the second string reeds they would play well. What had changed? The reed? Or me? Tommy - I like your analogy of lifting weights. Playing a stiffer reed does help to build your embouchure and make it stronger. I can tell you that for years I avoided even playing an A harp because I couldn't bend the 2 or 3 draw. Of course I only had one A harp (a Golden Melody) and just didn't know any better. Then one day I picked up a different A Harp and was amazed that I could do the same things on it that I could do on a C or a D harp. I have since acquired other Golden Melody A harps that I can bend so maybe I just had a lemon. Now, even if it is a G or a Low D or a Low F, I can still bend the 1,2,3 draws - if you have the right harp.
What you are starting to understand is why there is so much discussion about and why there are so many guys around who customize harps. It may just be that the Marine Band that you carry around with you just needs to have the reeds gapped - my guess is that you need to make the gaps narrower so they will be more responsive to your breath. This is not my area of expertise, but probably 90% of the people on this forum have gone through what you are experiencing now. The other 10% will go through it too if they keep playing.
Tom
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eharp
1409 posts
Aug 19, 2011
8:57 AM
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if that's the case, tommy, i would strongly suggest you keep practicing the mb harps. it can only make your playing bushman or sp20 that much stronger.
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Tommy the Hat
213 posts
Aug 19, 2011
9:08 AM
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I'm on board with the playing the MB more idea as this will improve my playing on other harps (in theory). My only concern is the off bends. I can get and hold bends on the 3 hole better on other harps. It seems all other harps at this point. Especially that elusive half step. That allows me to hear the right pitch as well as know how much breath I need to get it.
On the MB I'm not getting it right and I have to search for it and then it doesn't last....no sustain. To learn it right I need to hear it right and I need to be able to hold the notes. On other harps I can do that. I can't seem to control that 3 draw on the MB. It could be just "that" harp. Maybe not all MB's. Like I said, the rest of the harp is nice and it plays well. 3 hole single notes? Very low and doesn't match the rest of the playing.
I may have to agree to just mix it up.
I do believe I had a more productive practice today and that, IMO, is an important factor.
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Tommy
Bronx Mojo
Last Edited by on Aug 19, 2011 9:11 AM
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garry
97 posts
Aug 19, 2011
1:51 PM
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personally, i've always found MB's to be unplayable. i recognize that others love them, but they're not for me.
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Tuckster
867 posts
Aug 19, 2011
2:43 PM
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KingBiscuit makes a good point. You didn't say what key the Sp20 was in,but A & G are harder to bend 3 on pitch IMHO. I used to start practice on a low D and after that an A was easy.I feel different keys require different resonance. But then again, it could be the MB. Try tightening up the blow 3?
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Tommy the Hat
217 posts
Aug 19, 2011
2:46 PM
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"KingBiscuit makes a good point. You didn't say what key the Sp20 was in,but A & G are harder to bend 3 on pitch IMHO. I used to start practice on a low D and after that an A was easy.I feel different keys require different resonance. But then again, it could be the MB. Try tightening up the blow 3?"
Same key. The MB and SP20 were both C
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Tommy
Bronx Mojo
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