So I have heard you should tilt the harmonica up in your mouth for the best tone, but I can't figure it out for the life of me. Anybody care to explain?
I think to do that, it really depends more on inside of the mouth and jaw shape more than anything else, as I really don't see that much benefit in that. ---------- Sincerely, Barbeque Bob Maglinte Boston, MA http://www.barbequebob.com CD available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bbmaglinte
My guess would be the act of tilting causes you to drop your jaw (& let the instrument deeper in the mouth) if it is not which would improve your tone. I could see telling beginners to do that to help them get the feel for correct embouchure.
---------- ~Ryan
"I play the harmonica. The only way I can play is if I get my car going really fast, and stick it out the window." - Stephen Wright
Pennsylvania - H.A.R.P. (Harmonica Association 'Round Philly)
I tilt it sometimes as I go up higher on the harmonica, kind of like a swing... its wierd but when i get going good it coincides with the movement of my head...like a ship on an ocean full of waves...
(you can get carried away with it tho) ---------- Kyzer's Travels
Tilting the harp up or the front of the harp down helps some people get a better tone. It's the easiest way for beginners to get a clear single note. The way it's learned is to use a three hole embochure and blow or draw a 3 hole chord, for example the 4, 5 and 6 chord and gradully tilt the back up until the 5 hole sounds good and clear and the 4 and 6 holes are blocked out.
Well, I've heard it gets more natural air flow or something if you tilt the harp so the back is higher up and the holes are in the direction of straight down your throat. Personally, I CAN'T do it, I have tried and tried but I just can't. I can tilt the harp down, though, with the holes pointing upwards and the back down. Doing this I bend more accurately and my lips don't come into play when playing (sometimes I purse them when bending when playing faster runs). AND the tone is much better. I recorded the way I usually play, doing that, and tongue blocking, and it honestly sounds like tongue blocking. Maybe it is subjective? I like it at least!
Oh, Chris Michalek and Howard Levy tilt the back upwards, I have noticed. So i was kind of taking it from that. Doesn't work for me, but the other way does and I like the sound, so I think I'm good.
Most players tilt harmonica (back of the harp should be higher) Jason Ricci, Howard Levy, me too. Some players tilt back of the harmonica down (very uncomfortable for me): Rupert Oysler, Mikhail Vladimirov (my friend, 2009 Trossingen champion from Moscow). ---------- http://myspace.com/harmonicaboris
Tilting the back of the harp up is also taught by Dave Barrett in his books and at the Masterclass. One of the reasons for this is that it facilitates TBing for many people--and promotes a better tone (the tilt--I ain't about to touch the TBing part).
It was about the first thing Buddha taught me to do when I got a personal lesson from him. It took a while, but I pretty much always play that way now--and when I use a rack, I hate not getting that tilt right. . .
Tilting is more a natural position. It lets the harp go deeper and the creases in your mouth corners nicely fit the top crease of the harp. When I play my Golden Melodys, the top lip is actually hanging over the harp while the bottom of the harp rests nicely on the inside of my lower lip, almost to the gums.
Also, tilting the harp puts the hole(s) parallel with the throat opening and improves airflow.
Total relaxation is the key and I think one of the mistakes new players make is not putting the harp in deep enough. They see the small hole and instinct tells them to pucker and make the opening of the lips the same.
I have read in several places to tilt the back of the harp up when placing it into your mouth, and they all suggest it to allow the harp to get further into the mouth for better tone. I tilt mine up slightly and for what its worth, Richard Sleigh told me to quit it!
Chris, what are your thoughts on this? Does the direction of the tilt matter? I noticed a significant change in tone, meaning it was better, and my bending was more accurate.
From what I've learned Dave Barrett teaches you to tilt for LP, that's what he mainly teaches. He shows you how the lips will naturally block the holes when tilted. Don't see how that will help with TB.
Assuming an appropriately deep embouchure is used, tilting when LPing puts the holes of the harp into the mouth past the top teeth. Using deep embouchure when TBing gets the holes of the harp into the mouth past past the top and bottom teeth anyway, without having to tilt.
I'm a mixed embouchure player. I tilt when LPing but I don't when TBing. (Maybe this is why i don't play as well as Buddha).
Anyway, there are some excellent players who never tilt.
my 5-year-old took to tilting the back of the harp up, and he can bend like crazy. i'm not really into doing it on purpose, but sometimes it seems i tilt a bit to compensate whenever i'm not draw bending well.
