danielbs
22 posts
Sep 24, 2008
7:53 AM
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I cant say i've masterd bending but its alot easier then when i started.
Bending a note, 4 drew for example, is easy when i'm on that hole. But my problem starts when i'm moving towards a bend:
I'm playing a lick with regular notes then when i come to a bend i actually need to stop playing and think about moving my tongue in order to make the bend. Do you have any good tips on how to incorporate bends into my playing.
Thanks
Daniel
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Big Al
Guest
Sep 24, 2008
8:21 AM
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I know Adam has a lesson on bending, but I haven't purchased it. You might check that out and see what it does for you.
Otherwise, the first part of the good ole blues scale is good for attacking bends in mid-riff. -2 -3' +4 -4' -4. Practice it up and down and you will be accomplishing what you are asking about.
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danielbs
23 posts
Sep 24, 2008
9:38 AM
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Thanks !
I did buy Adam's Tone Clinic video - which tought me how to bend.
But as i said my problem is with moving form one 'regular' note to a 'bent' one.
I'll try your lick.
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tookatooka
5 posts
Sep 24, 2008
12:50 PM
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I used to suffer the same when I first started playing. I found that in order to bend I had to stop playing, find the correct hole, drop the jaw and give a slight inward drawing cough or ka sound to get the bend to start and couldn't imagine how to start a note normally that would bend towards the end. After a while I found it got to be quite seemless with experience.
I should ask what key harp you are using because I found it harder to bend on the lower key G harp than the higher C. After changing from the G to a C it was a piece of cake. I would spend ages just working on the one hole and trying to make it warble up and down through the bend and back until I got it right.
If you can whistle an up and down warble, take note of what your tongue is doing then apply that to the harp but instead of blowing draw. If you experiment with that I'm sure you'll get there. If you accentuate your tongue (the back of the tongue) movements and jaw position it will come eventually.
It's a major milestone to get over that bit. Once you can do it you'll wonder why on earth you couldn't do it before.
Last Edited by on Sep 24, 2008 12:51 PM
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danielbs
24 posts
Sep 24, 2008
1:34 PM
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Most of the time i'm using a 'c' harp.
Are there any licks you recommend to make it easy ?
Thanks
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MD1032
11 posts
Sep 25, 2008
2:59 PM
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Firstly, what kind of harp are you using?
Believe me, I know exactly how you feel. I felt the exact same way when I started, and nothing can change that but time as you develop your muscle memory. If you have a harp that's harder to bend though, like a cheap ebay harp, that might be the difference right there.
I found out that a C harp wasn't the best key for me after buying a boatload of harps. Do yourself a favor and buy a good D or A harp (Special 20 is my preference, they last longer than Marine Bands and aren't as bright). I think D is a much better place to start because it's easier to bend and personally, I have access to a lot more songs in the key of A than in G. Buddy Guy likes the key of A a lot.
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New_B
35 posts
Sep 25, 2008
4:32 PM
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Initially, I found it very difficult to get the 3-hole bends accurately on the C harps and up. Once I was able to distinguish and perform the different 3-hole bend gradations on the A harp, I was better able to make the transition on the higher keyed harps.
Personally, I have had better success learning the 3-hole bends on the A, G and low-F harps. Additionally, I found it easier to learn the 8 , 9 & 10 hole blow bends on the lower keyed harps.
Last Edited by on Sep 25, 2008 6:41 PM
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danielbs
25 posts
Sep 26, 2008
1:40 AM
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I have a few Lee oskar's and Suzuki's, I can't say i'm using a crappy harmonica...
My problem isn't bending on its own, but playing a bend in a lick/tab...
I just can't seem to get the note right. I guess practicing is the answer.
Thanks !
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LittleJoeSamson
67 posts
Sep 26, 2008
9:46 AM
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A question....is the difficulty in drawing down the bend, or in hitting the half-step bent note without drawing down?
If the latter, then it is much a matter of memory. Time will eventually take care of it.
As for stopping and looking for the proper hole; this is quite common with learner's, but it is a mistake that should be gotten away from before it becomes a habit.
When my students do this, I immediately stop them and tell them to close their eyes when practicing. Because the harp is "blind" anyway, the mechanics involve a feel for embouchure, mouth and tongue position; the visualizing how changes affect the sound and pitch.
I find the Little Walter version of "Mellow Down Easy" to be a good exercise for this.
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