bluesharper
76 posts
Aug 09, 2010
8:41 AM
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Okay so I play chromatic and I play the Cx-12. And I was learning an irish reel And at some points even when I wet the mouthpiece and my lips the mouthpiece dried out in like 20 seconds. Does anyone know how to keep it wet for longer?
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5F6H
270 posts
Aug 09, 2010
8:50 AM
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I think you may be applying too much pressure with your lips on the harp, it shouldn't really need to be wet. Maybe adjust your embouchure a little so that you make light contact with the harp with your drier, outer edge of the lips more?
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nacoran
2450 posts
Aug 09, 2010
12:42 PM
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These are just some random unscientific ideas, but make sure you're hydrated well.
Make sure the harp is really clean where you run your lips. I've found cleaning the harp really well sometimes takes care of the problem. Dead skin will roughen up the face of a harp in a hurry. I just use a craft stick ($1-2 at a craft store for a couple hundred) to get the most dried on stuff off. They are basically just heavy duty toothpick, harder than the gunk so it cleans but softer than the metal and plastic your cleaning so it doesn't scratch) and then a polishing cloth that came with my Seydel to get the rest.) The difference can be huge. You need a lot less lubrication to slide on a smooth surface.
Sometimes when I really feel the need to play but my lips are drying out to quick I'll put some petroleum based lip balm on, although the harp may get dirty faster. Anything from food to sugary drinks can make your harp dirty faster. Like 5f5h says, you don't have press your lips to hard.
The farther back in your mouth you can get the harp the more spit you'll get, and the better seal you'll get with less pressure.
I hope one or more ideas helps. :)
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barbequebob
1102 posts
Aug 09, 2010
12:47 PM
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The clear drawback from playing the chromatic with too much moisture is that layers of dead skin will eventually not only clog up the reeds, it will also clog up the slide assembly and can cause the windsaver valves to get stuck.
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Sincerely,
Barbeque Bob Maglinte
Boston, MA
http://www.barbequebob.com
CD available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bbmaglinte
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bluesharper
78 posts
Aug 09, 2010
2:41 PM
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Yeah putting the harp further in my mouth helped alot. Thanks!
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bluemoose
262 posts
Aug 09, 2010
4:57 PM
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My only issue with the CX-12 is that you need to really baby it and keep it in it's case or surrounded by a foam cutout because it doesn't take much rattling around to have the tension bar snap off the little plastic slot. $70 a pop to replace the shell.
Other than that I love mine.
moose.
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