jonsparrow
43 posts
Apr 05, 2009
11:53 AM
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ok so when your playing if your mouth waters a little bit of some saliva gets to the tip of your tounge do you try an avoid spitting it into the harp or do you just not care? iv been trying to avoid it cause i donno if it would clog the reed or make it sound bad for a moment. i imagine alot of spit would get in there with tounge blocking? im not drooling like a dog or nothin, but it happens so i was wondering what to do in the situation.
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Miles Dewar
287 posts
Apr 05, 2009
1:03 PM
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I spit all over my harp when I play. When I really get down spit starts flying all over the place. It usually doesn't get clogged up as long as you haven't eaten anything with sugar in it. I think it's easier to play with spit flying in the harp rather than having a really dry mouth.
I don't know what it is but when I play with a dry mouth, my tone suffers. I also cannot do glissandos and those are a big part of my play.
Gussow tells us to spit in the 3 hole when it gets hard to play. It really helps it loosen up. Just make sure you don't leave the spit in there when you are done playing.
Go Bears baby! Jay Cutler! Ha ha. Where's the pack at now?
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---Go Bears!!! (Richard Dent for Hall of Fame)---
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jonsparrow
46 posts
Apr 05, 2009
1:10 PM
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how do you not leave it in there? just slap it aganst your leg? an ya the 3 hole is a bitch on one of my harps.
Last Edited by on Apr 05, 2009 1:10 PM
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snakes
164 posts
Apr 05, 2009
9:58 PM
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Yup - slap it on yer leg.
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Miles Dewar
291 posts
Apr 05, 2009
10:07 PM
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yep, or just put your mouth on like 5 holes, tilt your head back and suck hard while all the goodies start flying. lol
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---Go Bears!!! (Jay Cutler in Chicago baby!) Where's the Pack at now?---
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earlounge
63 posts
May 18, 2010
8:21 AM
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I usually search the forum before I start a new thread, so I resurected this one because it is the closest thing I found to my issue.
I have a wierd issue where I get extra saliva when playing harp on stage. This doesn't happen when I practice.
The extra spit is choking my reeds. A quick tap on my leg clears it, but this is an annoying thing right in the middle of a solo. I notice this issue is worse with the harps that are gapped tightly. So my best playing harps are the worst live.
I do not eat or drink before playing, and I always rinse with water to avoid issues.
Does anyone else have an over active saliva gland on stage? How do you deal with it? Any thoughts on why this doesn't happen to me during practice?
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Leanground
108 posts
May 18, 2010
8:28 AM
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Slapping that harp against your leg works well but remember not to wear light color pants...an old lady told me that was some nasty shit.
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toddlgreene
1337 posts
May 18, 2010
8:30 AM
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Yeah, my part-dog traits come out when I play extensively sometimes, and I sweat thru my tongue! I've actually licked my shirtsleeve many times when my mouth seems too wet. Bang the harp's blow side(NOT the cover plate side;you'll bend it, and the spit won't come out) against your pants leg to knock out and absorb that spit. Don't want a wet spot on your legs, or bruise easily? Carry a small rag or towel to hold in the heel of one hand and bang the harp there instead.
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Todd L Greene. V.P.
Last Edited by on May 18, 2010 8:30 AM
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harpwrench
258 posts
May 18, 2010
8:58 AM
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Try keeping your chin up so gravity isn't working against you, or some like to tilt the back of the harp up.
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Todd Parrott
11 posts
May 18, 2010
9:30 AM
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This is one reason why I don't share harps. :-)
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toddlgreene
1338 posts
May 18, 2010
9:35 AM
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Ditto, Todd. I tell folks who want to play one of my harps that why don't they just cut out the middle man and liplock me, becuase that's essentially what they are doing by playing one of my harps. Usually does the trick.
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Todd L Greene. V.P.
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9000
8 posts
May 18, 2010
9:48 AM
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"I have a wierd issue where I get extra saliva when playing harp on stage. This doesn't happen when I practice."
This is a problem common to some singers, too. I'm talking about legit, classically trained singers, apparently, due to a little nervousness when we're not just practicing but actually up on stage. I tend to be a "wet" player and this was a big problem when I first started playing out in public. I consulted with some voice teachers who told me something that is counterintuitive: Make sure that you're well hydrated with water. Apparently, if we try to hold back on the water our bodies go over board trying to hydrate our mouths. I've noticed that over the years this problem has moderated to the point that it's no longer an issue. I say just keep puttin' yourself out there and make sure you're drinkin' plenty of water...you're losing a lot of hydration through the harp. I bet it will get better! All the best, Jay
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earlounge
64 posts
May 18, 2010
10:10 AM
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@9000 this def sounds like my issue. So maybe my nerves are pumpin the spit. Hopefully it will subside when I get more comfortable.
@harpwrench I will try this, it might add to my stage presence. Tilt my head back and point my mic up to the ceiling like I'm rockin out! Just a little spit clogs up my sweet harps... they are air tight! ;)
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nacoran
1885 posts
May 18, 2010
1:01 PM
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Head tilt on stage is one thing. Avoid dairy. It will make you all phlegmy. I think a lot of the time when we are just practicing we are more likely to take that moment when we feel the spit on our mouth and pause and suck it up rather than let it get the harp in a big glob. It's about moisture management. Take a second to shake out your harp when there is a pause in the music, and stop drooling over the groupies.
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Nate
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barbequebob
831 posts
May 18, 2010
1:07 PM
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Avoiding dairy products is also advice given by vocal coaches to avoid a build up of mucos, which can have a negative effect on a vocalist's vocal chords.
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Sincerely,
Barbeque Bob Maglinte
Boston, MA
http://www.barbequebob.com
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MP
305 posts
May 18, 2010
3:06 PM
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are you an OS(OVER SPRAY) player? or are you a LH(LOOGIE HAWKER)player? i use both techniques.
Last Edited by on May 18, 2010 3:13 PM
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alleycatjoe
92 posts
May 18, 2010
10:49 PM
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my experience with nervousness actually is the opposite, sometimes my mouth dries out and my lips stick to the harp , thats why i always make sure i have a bottle of water. however when i was a beginner i salivated alot more when i played the harp. id have to shave down the swollen wood on a marine band i think it is a natural event to produce more saliva when you are putting metal or foreign object in your mouth, your body should get used to it after a while. this is the reason why a lot of begining chromatic players have problems with the wind savers getting too moist and starting to rattle when they get out of shape. i tried doing the no hands sonnyboy/rick estrin thing and not only did it cause me to drool it also cause me to gag, im sure rick must have experienced similar reaction but he got past it. your body adapts to these things .
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Nastyolddog
754 posts
May 19, 2010
1:57 AM
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1st is this the real Jonsparrow only 43 posts?
Bro's I'm on the other end of the stick,
it's not nerves or anything, but after every song voals & Harp, i have to have a drink of water i will knock down a Litre in a 30 min stint,
our Club helped out with a charity fund raiser we where the only Muso's to turn up the other acts backed out we played 4 hours long,
i slapped down 6 liters of water with all this water drinking i nerver slobber up my Harps i think it must be a Hydration thing for me?
so i guess the amount of water i drink keeps me Hydrated, and this stops the saliva ducts fron producing saliva to keep my mouth moist:)
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