2plankr
57 posts
May 30, 2014
6:17 PM
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Has anyone got any suggestions as how to finesse a performance when a reed sticks during your solo?
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Frank
4423 posts
May 30, 2014
6:47 PM
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Having a duplicate harp in grabbing distance is the ultimate recovery method. Short of that, and depending on why it got stuck in the first place - you may be up against a wing and a prayer scenario?
Last Edited by Frank on May 30, 2014 6:48 PM
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jawbone
541 posts
May 30, 2014
8:35 PM
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I'm not saying this is the problem - just that it seemed to happen to me quite a bit....
I never ever had a reed stick or choke when I rehearsed but noticed that it happen when I played out. I finally realized the excitement and trying to play louder and using too much breath force instead of letting the equipment do the lifting was causing the problem.. just saying
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If it ain't got harp - it ain't really blues!!!!
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STME58
851 posts
May 30, 2014
8:43 PM
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I occasionally have reeds stick due to contamination. Rinsing the harp frequently clears this, but that is not something you can do on stage (I am not on stage much).
Sometimes a quick hard draw will clear it (this can be hard to fit in musically, the reed will sound if it clears). It is a bit disconcerting when the quick draw works and you can feel the offending debris hit your tongue!
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robbert
314 posts
May 31, 2014
6:48 AM
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Avoid that note and finish the song.
Use a little blast of air to try and free the reed while playing.
Tap harp hard against your leg, during a non-harp portion of the song, or when it would be least missed.
Grab a duplicate harp.
Definitely try to remember to use your amplification rather than more breath force during performance in the future.
Because of lower gaps, I still have reed sticking fairly frequently when I forget to exercise breath control and start to blow too hard. I have duplicate keys for harps I know are going to get a lot of use and where a lot of chordal technique or chugging is used with that key.
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dougharps
628 posts
May 31, 2014
6:52 AM
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I have to agree with Jawbone's theory. (Unless you often eat and play with a mouth full of food particles, which is a really bad idea!) It is an issue of breath control. I occasionally do it myself... such as last night.
As I approached the end of my solo after being asked to sit in on a song during an arts festival street performance, I choked a reed during a fast passage. Later, off mic, there were no problems with the reed. I had just become too excited and played too hard for the harp setup.
All I know is that despite it being disconcerting and throwing your timing off, you just need to persevere and do the best you can with the solo and the song. It is one of the challenges of live music. Don't let it mess you up: carry on!
If you are gigging for pay always have a backup harp ready so the music can continue. Reeds can fail, go flat, or jam up. Later you can check for obstructions and check your gaps. The tighter you set gaps for overbend technique, the more likely it is that this can occur. Time to revisit breath control, or gap wider.
But during performance, make the best of it. Musicians will understand, and the audience will quickly forget as you continue making more good music. Live music has times when it is fantastic in the moment, and times that are frustrating.
Just play on...
EDIT: Also agree with robbert, who posted while I was typing the above!
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Doug S.
Last Edited by dougharps on May 31, 2014 6:54 AM
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Mighty Slim
15 posts
May 31, 2014
6:57 AM
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Jawbone:
I have had the exact same experience and reached the exact same conclusion. Harps that worked great in practice sometimes would surprisingly stick in performance, and looking back it was always under circumstances where I was using too much breath/air, usually in a subconscious effort to play louder so that I could hear myself because I was having a problem with that. Back home, the same harp was fine again.
The lesson was, I need to make sure I am comfortable with my own on-stage volume before getting started, and that will make the harps work better.
Slim
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jawbone
542 posts
May 31, 2014
8:53 AM
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Golly - I've never had this many people agree with me before - could you guys talk to my wife!!!! Princess Rolling Eyes hardly ever agrees with my theories!!!
But seriously, it is really hard to keep that breath control under control - it is only natural to try harder - and with most stuff it works but those reeds just don't like it.
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If it ain't got harp - it ain't really blues!!!!
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HarveyHarp
589 posts
May 31, 2014
9:29 AM
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Yes, its normally a volume issue. If it happens on stage, just go on to the next note, and nobody will notice, unless you tell them. Normally, I just start laughing, and then everyone knows, and has fun with it. That shows that I don't take the whole thing too seriously, I guess.
Or, you could just shift to a higher register, if you are real quick on your feet, and then you meant to do it.
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HarveyHarp
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GMaj7
431 posts
May 31, 2014
12:22 PM
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Same thing the police and military do.. when their pistol jams up...
Tap, Rack, and Assess...
Tap - Bang it on your palm holes down
Rack.. put it back in playing position
Assess - See if it works..
If not eject and and grab another harp..
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Greg Jones
16:23 Custom Harmonicas
greg@1623customharmonicas.com
1623customharmonicas.com
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nacoran
7792 posts
May 31, 2014
1:03 PM
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See if you can fake it until the end of the musical phrase, and when you get a second to pause, try any of the above fixes. If you are going to try to blow it free, don't do it into the microphone (or, if your microphone has an off switch, flip it first.)
Of course, if you turn off your mic, be prepared for the wise ass guitar player to say, 'Man, that's the best you've ever sounded.' :)
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Nate
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walterharp
1393 posts
May 31, 2014
3:28 PM
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If it is an improv solo, there is always a way around the note.. if it is a set melody then you have to fake it.
A couple things in addition to breath control to help to avoid that problem. If you do not need overblows, use harps that are gapped a bit higher. Always test all your harps before a performance, every note to make sure they are free before you start playing. If it is cold out (not this time of year in Northern Hemisphere) or your harps have been sitting on an air con, let them warm up. Have spares available in each key. In addition to breath control, spit control can be an issue.. if you are having problems with that tilt your head back while playing so it does not end up in the harp.
Most people in the audience don't know the difference unless you are playing the melody.
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boris_plotnikov
969 posts
May 31, 2014
4:29 PM
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Do not mess reed choking (problem of applying to much pressure) and sticking by saliva. To avoid choking increase your breath control (recommended) or increase gaps a bit.
For the second case there're some tricks.
As previously mentioned:
- try to avoid this note, sometimes it's even fun
- try to tap
- Get a spare harmonica
I'd add that it often helps to play this hole with extra pressure and to start it with bend!
If problem is frequent I recommend avoid drinking anything at least half hour before gig.
Sticking was a big problem for me for the first 7 years or so.
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My videos.
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JustFuya
231 posts
May 31, 2014
5:17 PM
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I'm with @walterharp. 99% of my playing is improv and if a well timed thigh slap doesn't free the reed there are alternatives. If it's a well practiced melody I'll do my best to hold true to the line if it feels comfortable. Otherwise I'll venture out on my own.
EDIT: Guitar players break their strings all the time and some manage it very well with 5 strings.
Last Edited by JustFuya on Jun 02, 2014 2:18 PM
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