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Dirty-South Blues Harp forum: wail on! >
Quick diagnosis needed
Quick diagnosis needed
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chicagopsych
3 posts
Aug 09, 2012
12:20 PM
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I’m a relative beginner on harmonica and have tried and purchased several models to try out. I mostly practice with a Suzuki Bluesmaster (very comfortable on my lips), but often switch to my Promaster when I can’t get something I’m trying to play to sound right. It’s just simply the easiest harp I own to play. With that said the Promaster sometimes emits a very high pitched, but low volume whistle when I draw on the lower holes. Can someone please tell me what I’m likely doing wrong when I get that noise? I assume that I am drawing too hard, but I don’t get that on my other harmonicas and I play the Promaster softer than the rest because it requires the least effort by far.
Also, I have always wondered what people mean when they talk about the “responsiveness” of a harmonica?
Thanks!
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tookatooka
3026 posts
Aug 09, 2012
1:04 PM
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Part of the answer is the high pitched squeel is caused by torsional twisting of the reed rather than the usual up and down action. I'll leave it to others to explain how this could be happening but I had it in my early playing days when I was starting out and perfecting my embouchure and drawing/blowing techniques.
It usually occurs with the wide short-reed asian harps rather than the longer reed Hohners etc.
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bluesharper
226 posts
Aug 09, 2012
1:23 PM
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Im not really a diatonic player anymore playing more chromatic, but ill pitch in what I can anyway. First of all is this the only promaster that you happen to own? If it isn't and if it isnt happening on the second one then it could be the harp. what low notes does the whistle sound on? have you tweaked the reeds on it at all because you could have knocked one out of alignment with the slot (or it could already be misaligned), could you possibly give a better description of this noise, or even a soundclip of it? There is alot more experienced people on here who will help you but its just my two cents. if it happens to be misaligned you could use a thing called a reed wrench to re align it. If you dont really do these things then you could end up messing it up even further, if you do adjust your reeds, one way to check that it is to take it apart, and lightly press your finger down on the reed in question into the slot, if you here something like a clicking noise then if could well be misaligned. Again just my two cents, just listing a possibility.
Edit* Just reread your post and realised you said it only happens sometimes, my bad, thatt leaves out the misalignment, Ignore my answer.*
To you other question, responsiveness, in my understanding, is how the reeds play and how quickly they react to you, how easy it is to do things like bending, overblowing, and again I good be off, correct me if im wrong please.
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Last Edited by on Aug 09, 2012 2:17 PM
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WinslowYerxa
251 posts
Aug 09, 2012
1:40 PM
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Open up your airways. That squeal happens when you tune your mouth to a note that the reed can't play. The only way the reed can dispel the energy is by squealing.
Tuning your mouth to a note is what allows you to bend notes, but it can have side effects like the one you're experiencing if you tune your mouth outside the ability of that note to bend.
So how do you un-tune your mouth?
You create an open, gentle airflow with no snags - nothing hindering the flow of air at any point.
Try yawning. Your mouth and throat both open way up and you can move a lot of air quickly because the airways are wide open to let you get lots of oxygen fast and stay awake and alert.
Now keep your throat and mouth (lips and jaw) locked in the yawn and breathe in and out deeply and slowly a few times.
As you breathe, listen to the *sound* of the air moving. Ideally, you shouldn't hear anything.
Any sound your breathing makes is drag that impedes airflow - so stay open.
Once you can breathe noiselessly with a yawn, try to keep the yawn going in your throat area - everything wide open - while you let your jaw and lips close to where they'd be when you play the harmonica.
With your lips and jaw more relaxed, focus on keeping the throat open and air moving noiselessly.
When you can do that, add the harmonica, making sure that your lips don't crowd the hole you're playing.
Play long notes, and from time to time, remove the harmonica from your mouth while you continue to breathe. Listen and monitor for breathing noise.
After awhile you should be able to play any note on the harmonica fully and clearly.
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Winslow
Last Edited by on Aug 09, 2012 1:43 PM
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chicagopsych
4 posts
Aug 09, 2012
3:02 PM
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Thanks for the quick replies.
Winslow, what you say makes a lot of sense because my someone once told me that I tend to bend the lower notes by accident. I was always worried that bending would be a big challenge and came to find out that I bend often by mistake. Also the Promaster bends for me much easier than the others (although again not always desired), so this is all coming together. I will try your mouth and airway exercises. Thanks!
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