tookatooka
53 posts
Dec 18, 2008
10:53 AM
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Been going back to basics to sort out my technique and I just can't hold the harp in my left hand the way Adam shows in his videos. I need to use my right to hold the harp because the slope of the harp to my mouth and the grip feels so much more comfortable.
I can still create a good resonance chamber and use my right hand to flutter
The reason I ask is because by doing that the sound chamber created is a little smaller at the low end of the harp compared with the high numbered end and this may cause a slight resonance problem with my overall tone.
To hold the harp with my left hand is like asking me to write with my left hand it's impossible.
Been watching a lot of players on YouTube and they are all left hand harp holders. Jon Gindick changes his hand positions on every other note but he's still a lefty.
Any comments? Is it something I should concern myself with?
Last Edited by on Dec 18, 2008 11:04 AM
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MrVerylongusername
66 posts
Dec 18, 2008
11:16 AM
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I'm a fan of whatever works for you.
DId you know both Sonny Terry and Paul Butterfield played with the harp upside down (high notes to the left)? Being a little unconventional never did them any harm!
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Anonymous
Guest
Dec 18, 2008
11:18 AM
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No
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Andrew
27 posts
Dec 18, 2008
12:06 PM
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I love this question. When I first got my D MB I couldn't bend the two hole draw unless I played it extra loud. Then I discovered I could only play it right-handed if I wanted to play it quietly, because left-handed seemed to alter the acoustics of the instrument. After a lot of practice I could play it left-handed, but not reliably. Now I use the symmetrical hand-shape and try to keep it flexible, and everything seems OK. Also, my hands are probably small, cos the symmetrical hold is the only one where I can actually cup the entire harp and really stifle that sound down, which is a sound I like to hear.
Last Edited by on Dec 18, 2008 2:34 PM
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superchucker77
111 posts
Dec 18, 2008
3:26 PM
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I does not matter. What ever works for you.
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Brandon Bailey
Superchucker77's Youtube
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Stéphan
6 posts
Dec 18, 2008
3:46 PM
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Do as you want, if it's the good way for you.
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Stephan.
MyTube
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Tuckster
59 posts
Dec 18, 2008
4:24 PM
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For about 14 of the 16 years I've been playing, I did the same. Left hand on top over the right. I'd use my left hand to open the cup for "wahs". One day a harp player I respect critiqued my playing. The first thing he told me was to switch hand positions. Well for me, it was a huge difference. You'll always have that nice chamber on the low end,where it counts the most.It only took me a couple weeks to break the old habit. Don't take my word for it. Try it yourself. If you can't hear the difference,you'd better get your hearing checked!
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Tryharp
46 posts
Dec 18, 2008
6:28 PM
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With respect to a "standard/traditional? grip", my theory is that if you are a natural lefthander, you want to hold the harp in your right hand, and turn it upside down, this is what I do. Until I did this it just didnt feel natural. I had a strong natural preference to hold it in the right( I guess its the same with most things, writing, golf etc ), but I agree with Tuckster, you need to get that chamber down the low end, so youve got to point the numbers to the ground!
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Andrew
32 posts
Dec 18, 2008
11:27 PM
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Tuckster says: "You'll always have that nice chamber on the low end,where it counts the most".
This looks like a really good point to me.
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spaz
4 posts
Jul 04, 2019
12:05 PM
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harmonica is a left handed instrument period.....play whatever is comfortable and works for you....lefties need not reverse to right hand and or flip upside down ITS A LEFT HANDED INSTRUMENT...flip and reverse if needed but remember a lefty playing a left handed instument may develop the coordination faster.....but dont let a righty tell you u r bacwards and must reverse....with harmonicas right handed people are bacwards lol
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jbone
2961 posts
Jul 04, 2019
12:10 PM
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I have ALWAYS held with right and covered with left. "ONLY" 45 YEARS' experience. Do what works for you. If it does not work up the line, change it.
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Music and travel destroy prejudice.
Reverbnation
Facebook
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SuperBee
6050 posts
Jul 04, 2019
3:04 PM
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What is with all this zombie thread revival. I thought 2010 was freaky with the pearwood thing, but ffs! This is from 2008! Did they even have harmonicas back then?
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dchurch
255 posts
Jul 04, 2019
4:53 PM
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Yes there were harps back then. I heard the combs were made out of peach wood ;)
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It's about time I got around to this.
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nacoran
10139 posts
Jul 05, 2019
1:53 AM
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Lol... wow, that's a strong opinion for a 4th post. Nothing wrong with it, but it is a little weird on a 11 year old post. Good to see the old names pop up sometimes though. Brandon, MrVLUN, Tooka, Andrew..
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Nate
Facebook
Thread Organizer (A list of all sorts of useful threads)
First Post- May 8, 2009
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Pickn5
39 posts
Jul 05, 2019
6:07 AM
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On Charlie McCoy's Beginning Country Harp DVD, he says he holds the harp in his right hand, most others the left hand, try it both ways, and choose what works for you.
If your not familiar with his playing, check him out. He's great!
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Jeff B
Just enjoying the music journey.
Last Edited by Pickn5 on Jul 05, 2019 6:08 AM
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DanP
412 posts
Jul 05, 2019
9:07 AM
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SuperBee, What's wrong with reviving old posts? Lots of good subjects have been discussed in the past. It's only a zombie thread if one of the posters is dead when he posts.
Last Edited by DanP on Jul 05, 2019 9:20 AM
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WinslowYerxa
1646 posts
Jul 05, 2019
9:09 AM
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If you play chromatic, it will make a difference, as the slide button is on the right side (though one or two Hohner models allow you to switch it to the left), and it's best to use the free, non-holding hand to operate the slide. Other than that, though, there's no particular reason not to hold the harmonica in the right hand.
===========
Winslow
Harmonica lessons with one of the world's foremost experts
Check out my blog and other goodies at winslowyerxa.com
Harmonica For Dummies, Second Edition with tons of new stuff
SPAH 2019 convention in Tulsa, August 14-17
The 2019 Harmonica Collective in November
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SuperBee
6051 posts
Jul 05, 2019
3:25 PM
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DanP, I personally think there are several things wrong with it.
That doesn’t mean I’m right, it’s just what I think.
Nothing is wrong with raising a topic which has been discussed in the past. Someone who is interested in doing so can create a new topic indicating their interest, and if they found an old thread on the subject they think worthy of review, they can link to it in their new thread.
Old threads slide away more quickly than new threads.
People often get confused and respond to the OP, rather than to the new post which revived the thread, so posters waste their energy responding to people who very often are no longer with us in some sense.
Take the example of this thread; the OP was a valid question. The person who created the thread is still a member though he has not been very active here for several years. I doubt he is still wondering about which hand to use.
The person who revived the thread was not especially interested either. The nature of that post is not really at all in the spirit of the topic.
My view is that if you have a question or want to initiate a discussion, do so under your own steam. Don’t raise threads from 2+ years ago. It’s lazy and confusing. You will usually get a much better, more pertinent discussion if you frame it in the present. Which, as noted, does not prevent giving a reference to an old thread which may hold interesting information.
Last Edited by SuperBee on Jul 05, 2019 4:14 PM
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DanP
413 posts
Jul 05, 2019
5:36 PM
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All valid points, SuperBee. My post was more of a question than a comment. I was just curious as to why. The last part of my post was, of course, in jest because I had never seen old posts referred to as zombie threads before. Anyway, you answered my question. Thanks for responding. As to the subject of the thread, I don't think there is any right way or wrong way to hold the harmonica. Whichever way works best for you.
Last Edited by DanP on Jul 06, 2019 7:41 AM
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Mirco
619 posts
Jul 05, 2019
11:28 PM
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I heard that, if you use your left hand, it feels like someone else is doing it.
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Marc Graci
YouTube Channel
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hooktool
202 posts
Jul 07, 2019
10:58 PM
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HaHaHa!
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The Iceman
3881 posts
Jul 08, 2019
9:14 AM
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Unpublished rule is - whichever hand you use to wipe your butt, use the other one to hold the harmonica...
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The Iceman
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nowmon
214 posts
Jul 08, 2019
10:27 AM
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Playing left or right hold is not a question of importance,As playing,left to right low to high,or right to left low to high. ???
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