Xpun3414
2 posts
Oct 01, 2010
7:56 AM
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Hi everyone,
Im new to the site & this is my first post...so here it goes.
I have a Hohner GLH (great little harp) & to me it sounds as though the first hole is way deeper then the 2 or 3 holes.. it hits right,just sounds a bit to low/deep compared to the 2 & 3 holes. So much so that I dont like hitting the 1 hole when I play. Any ideas on what I can do? Too bad we cant leave sound clips,I'd play it & let you guys hear what I mean.Also on the upper part of the harp,7-10 holes it takes a LOT more blowing/drawing to make the note or get any sound at all. If I dont give them holes my all, I just get a wind in the hallway sound. Thanks for any ideas & help guys.
Harp on,
Jimmy
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Xpun3414
4 posts
Oct 01, 2010
8:18 AM
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Its my first Harp,Ive had it now for about 2 months & its in the key of C. And to say Im a newbie,is an over statement. Im trying to get to that lvl ;-) (lol)
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SuperBee
20 posts
Oct 01, 2010
8:32 AM
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well, the interval between the 1 draw note and the 2 draw note is a semitone greater than between 2 & 3 for instance...your drawing D in hole 1 and G in hole 2...B in hole 3...so what you're hearing may be normal?
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Xpun3414
5 posts
Oct 01, 2010
8:53 AM
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Its on the blow as well. Maybe Im just too new to the harp,but it really does sound a bit deeper,I mean all the holes from 2 to 10 flow nicely together,just the 1 hole draw/blow seems out of whack or a bit off key. I really dont want to mess with the reeds,since I'm so new to the harp & dont want to mess up the reeds. But I suppose Im willing to try,since its only an 8 dollar harp. ;)
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jonlaing
117 posts
Oct 01, 2010
10:09 AM
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the 1 and 4 holes are identical except the 4 is an octave higher. try taping off 2 & 3 and play those two (or use your tongue, if you have that sort of oral dexterity already). If they sound alright together, then you're probably good. If they sound god awful then your 1 hole may have gone flat. It happens... especially with people who are new to the harp, because they use too much air pressure.
Remember to blow and draw no harder than you need to breathe. On that same note, what could be happening is you could be accidentally bending the note. The 1 draw can bend a half step down. If you feel palpable air pressure when you draw, that could be a likely scenario.
When I first started, I thought my 2 draw was broken because it sounded weak and flat. As it turns out I was bending it without realizing it, because I had newbie embouchure.
Remember to relax and open up your throat.
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Stickman
441 posts
Oct 01, 2010
12:56 PM
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You will have much better luck if you buy a quality harmonica. Spend at least $20 and you will notice a difference right away.
The Art Teacher Formally Known As scstrickland
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DanP
145 posts
Oct 01, 2010
1:30 PM
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The blow notes in the upper register (holes 7-10) require additional air pressure. It's the nature of the beast.
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jonlaing
120 posts
Oct 01, 2010
3:34 PM
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@DanP I've actually noticed the exact opposite. With a well gapped harp, too much pressure, especially on the high end, leads to choking and squealing.
An $8 harp is probably VERY leaky hence the difficulty with the high end. Most of your air is probably going between the comb and the reed plate, and not through the small stiff reeds.
Honestly, harps of this quality are just hampering your learning. Like Stickman said, go with a harp that is more than $20, like a Hohner Special 20 or something like that. You can be more confident at that point that any issues you are having are due to your own technique and not the harp, so you can learn from it.
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DanP
146 posts
Oct 01, 2010
5:51 PM
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@jon The high end draw notes seem easy for me but I've always had to use a little more wind for the high end blows. I never work on my harps except to fix a stuck reed. Maybe that's the problem. I don't gap my reeds for fear of gettting the harp out of tune. I agree with you and Stickman that Xpun should get a higher quality harp. A cheap leaky harp causes the player to use too much wind and makes learning to play harder.
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tookatooka
1781 posts
Oct 02, 2010
9:39 AM
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You may want to check the note with a free online tuner. Click my signature and look for my useful harp player links.
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Last Edited by on Oct 02, 2010 9:43 AM
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Xpun3414
12 posts
Oct 04, 2010
11:07 AM
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Went & got my self a Marine Band 1896/20 in the key of A. Very big difference, None of the troubles I was having w/ my GLH are present with my new harp. Im now thinking maybe I should have went w/a key of D instead of A but its fine I guess .. the D will come next. Also check out my post on whats happened to this new harp. Unreal. http://www.modernbluesharmonica.com/board/board_topic/5560960/716605.htm?page=1 And thank you all for the input.
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