shaneboylan
18 posts
May 01, 2008
11:30 AM
|
Here's a quick question - does all breathing in harp playing have to come from the diaphragm - is it ever ok to expel air using your throat for faster licks?
|
kudzurunner
42 posts
May 01, 2008
2:00 PM
|
It's fine to use your throat to articulate blow notes. I do this both with single notes and with octaves. I recently uploaded a lesson to YouTube called "36 blow octave" in which I describe how/when to do this.
--Adam
----------
"The will to win is nothing without the will to prepare."
--Juma Ikaanga, marathoner
|
Warbleman
10 posts
May 01, 2008
2:22 PM
|
Maybe I'm just talking through my ignorance, but exactly how to you breath with your throat? I am a trumpet player too and have always been taught to always support your breathing with the diaphragm in order to insure a strong steady airstream and improved tone. I've had great success with this on the trumpet and so far I have had success doing this on the harp.
|
Jeff
71 posts
May 01, 2008
9:08 PM
|
Warble, it's more of a diaphram vs upper chest discussion.
My advice is that music is all about making a nice sound. If you can make it sound good with shallow breathing in your chest, then that's all that matters: good sounds.
You can get better speed when not using your diaphram IMHO. I just wouldn't make a big habit of it. Use it only on the quick riffs you can't get to work using your diaphram.
|
Warbleman
12 posts
May 02, 2008
8:11 PM
|
Yes, the upper chest makes much more sense than the throat. Thanks for clarifying.
|
shaneboylan
20 posts
May 08, 2008
8:28 AM
|
Thanks for the comments - i agree with Jeff here - I normally only use my throat for fast licks on the upper end of the harp (holes 6-10.)
Also I think it's important to train your diaphragm up to speed for fast licks too, after all - that;s where the best tone comes from!
|
Philosofy
25 posts
May 08, 2008
12:43 PM
|
On some high notes, like Charlie McCoy's Orange Blossom Special, I can breath in and out of the harp really fast using only the air in my mouth, pushing my tongue in and out really quick.
Years ago, when I was in shape and playing a lot of harp, I took a spirometer test (breathing test.) I had to breath into a tube until I hit a certain mark, then out until I hit another mark on the graph. I had to do it as many times as I could in 30 seconds. 100% was an excellent score, but I kind of freaked the nurse out when I did 500%.
|
