Like most of Lee's other vids, this is a long winded exposition about what needs to be done with precious little explanation of the specifics of how to do it--and, remarkably, no discussion of embouchure which IMHO is a big part of accomplishing what he is talking about. I mean, what he has to say is certainly valid, he's just not giving us much information about specific techniques on how to achieve the objective which he describes in accurate, but very general, terms.
so much for my observations on this video. Regards JoeLee<==hangs his head and shuffles away into the closet to practice his non-existent overblow technique.
I think people have to "feel" the tone for themselves. They need to play with it and work with their own quirks until they are satisfied with what works.
Thanks for posting this--a light came on for me when he used the example of steaming up a window @4:25 with one's breath. When I tried it I realized that my throat was NOT open. My tone got a little better today just from practicing this concept.
@joeleebush: This vid DOES contain intelligent valid insightful observations about tone, so don't feel bad. I just find the discussion short on specifics for implementation of particular techniques and therefore dreadfully incomplete as an instructional tool. But it's very good as far as it goes.
For example, there's no discussion about deep embouchure, or an open and relaxed jaw, or comparing the "open" throat and oral resonance chamber to mouth, jaw and throat position when one yawns. That appears to be what he's getting at, but those things are not discussed or explained. Lee likes to talk conceptually at length without actually EXPLAINING how to accomplish what he is talking about, except for the glass fogging bit which was instructive--but how do you fog glass on a draw note?
IMHO, this vid is certainly conceptually valid and insightful, but very superficial in actually explaining in detail specific techniques for implementing the concepts that are discussed.
Last Edited by on Aug 30, 2010 7:17 PM
HVYI, Woefull? Dang, easy now. I think this was exceptionally well done. The whole topic is very difficult to articulate and I was impressed. Just my thoughts, and tone is IT to me.
Ok, I changed woeful to dreadful. There's nothing wrong w/ what he's saying--but there are easily grasped and easily explained specific techniques for DOING what he's talking about which he doesn't explain. Like, for example SIZE of air aperture. I do NOT agree that these techniques are difficult to articulate.
The concept he is talking about is valid and fundamental to good tone. Some say TBers have better tone than LPers. This is not true, but TBing FORCES the player to do certain things that produce good tone. A LPer can do those things, too, but must make a conscious effort to do them. What are they? They are the specific things one needs to do to follow Lee's advice, but Lee doesn't break it down that far. He doesn't share the specific techniques he is actually using. He just gives us the overall concept and one exercise. Excellent as far as it goes but, IMHO, very (if not dreadfully) incomplete.
I guess I feel that if one is going to put out YouTube instructionals one should do a thorough job of instruction. I simply don't find the explanation to be sufficiently detailed and thorough. But my expectations are not the standard by which such things are judged by anyone but me, so what i think really doesn't matter anyway.
Last Edited by on Aug 30, 2010 7:52 PM
@hvyi lol...I was just clowning with you man. No malice here. What you say makes sense though to a point. I guess I never had a problem with tone, therefore,I come across a little caustic at times when talking it up. Although on the other side of the picture, this overblow thing is running me bat crazy and if I cannot get them to work on an OTB harp, that's the end of the effort for me. It will fall into place though. I never heard a sound yet on a harmonica that I couldn't duplicate sooner or later...WITH LOTS OF WORK. That's one reason I was not such a good teacher...it frustrated me to see guys struggle and work their ass off and still come up short on something I found very easy to do. Then I would become impatient and turn into a werewolf. Regards
"One of the biggest misconceptions is that the big warm fat sound comes from the amplifier - it comes from the player".
I'm so tired of this. OF FREAKIN' COURSE better acoustic tone leads to better amplified tone. OF FREAKIN' COURSE. That's why Kim Wilson sounds good through anything.
But amps fatten your tone! Amps produce harmonics. Good mic/amp combinations produce sweet sounding ones including many in bass frequencies below your fundamental note. To suggest this is NOT a component of tone is nothing but snobbery.
I'm sure Lee Sankey is a great player with much more experience than me, but THIS I KNOW TO BE FACT.
Yo Bro's top secret man business i get what Lee is Talking About but yes i find Fault i notice his Jaw move Bad Bad jaw must never move,
Players shouldn't be producing a Note Drawn or Blown from the Front of the mouth or any part of the mouth cavity, the mouth should only be a passage for air to Flow through, the only part of the mouth that should move when producing a bent note is the Tongue,
Some say TBers have better tone than LPers. This is not true but TBing FORCES the player to do certain things that produce good tone.
Yes Play with an open throat
A LPer can do those things, too, but must make a conscious effort to do them. What are they?
Bro's Lee pointed out the Fog on the mirror this is the valid point of producing this Tone the mouth must be open Throat must be open producing Hah Hah Hah sound,
How do we do it Blowing and Drawing simple first you need to know where the Breath is being Drawn From, we Breath with our Lungs not mouth, open your mouth Breath in and out deeply like Gasping for air, the air is taken Deep into your diaphrame at no time are you useing your mouth to draw this Breath,
this is how to get the deep tone ok now when you put the harp to your mouth close your lips try to keep a wide open throat breath from the diaphrame not the mouth we only Hold the Harp in our Mouths
---------- Put that Harp in ya mouth Draw that Breath From way Down South:)
hello N.O.D why do I always understand you aussie post straight away?your post is a big help to me-not to slight my fellow yanks its just u seem to be more down to earth in your explanations
The whole open throat thing is something I've posted on this and other forums quite frequently as it also applies to vocals and the average player's throat, facial muscles, embouchure is often FAR less than that, and they generally make things 100 times worse by being very physically uptight. Taking breathing lessons from a reputable vocal coach will teach you this exact same thing. Unfortunately, for too many players, it tends to go in one ear and out the other. ---------- Sincerely, Barbeque Bob Maglinte Boston, MA http://www.barbequebob.com CD available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bbmaglinte
@BarbQBob it tends to go in 1 ear and out the other I believe that has to be quite true-from my standpoint I am listening to what you have to say and trying to make the most of it
Thanks Greg. Your opinion is respected in here. Personally I've always thought this. Good amplified tone isn't automatic if you have good acoustic tone either.
Well, in under seven minutes Mr Sankey has improved my tone more than anything else I've read or heard in the 3 years I've been playing. After watching this clip, my tone improved instantly!
