howdy- i have never even begun exploring doing overblows. for some unknown reason, after a bunch of years of blowing the harp, i am suddenly interested in learning how to do them... and incorporating them into my playing and have NO idea where to begin learning how do them. where would you all go to begin... where does adam begin teaching the basics skills of them? there must be youtube offerings.
First, I'd suggest watching this video from the master Buddha (from about 5mins in) and experiment with what he's saying in different ways:
Then I'd suggest taking a screw driver and removing the cover plates from your harmonica. Put a finger on the blow note of the 6 hole. Then blow the 6 until you can get the draw note in that hole to bend up. Practice that for a (few) week(s) until it's comfortable. Then put the covers back onto your harmonica. Then try the same thing while concentrating on pressure from the back of your throat and gentle use of air.
These things were part of what worked for me. It took a while to get down just like the first bend I ever got but once you get it it only gets easier.
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~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)
Here are a few tips I compiled... some of them helped me to overblow and some of them I wished some one forced me to listen and do :-)
1. Not every harmonica can overblow, but that said you don't need a supper harominc, you need to change the gapping mostly on the blow read. The hard part is doing it before you know how to overblow. The solution is utilizing the two steps of overblowing to both practice and customize your harp.
2. Learn the two steps of overblowing separately. First step is getting the blow read to choke and the easiest way to do it, is try to choke the blow read while the draw read is sealed with your thumb. So remove the cover plates and with you thumb seal the draw read (the bottom one) of 3, 4 or 5. Now blow gently on the hole you chose and try to choke it be changing your mouth position pretty much the way you draw bend. Try 3,4 and 5 holed randomly until you get it cause from my experience at least one hole will work. If you don't manage to get it or it is hard simple narrow the gap on the blow read until you get both a normal blow note and you easily choke it. After you manage to choke the blow read seal the blow read (the top one) and try to get the draw read to make a clear sound while blowing (remember gently - like blowing a regular note).
3. If you remember that overblowing is not about power but technique and when you change the gap do it gently by straining the read to the direction you need, there is not reason to wreck an harmonica. All my harmonicas are perfectly intact.
4. The last tip is use the your back tongue and not the tip of your tongue. When I first learned how to overblow I managed to overblow by changing the position of the tip of my tongue up wards. While it worked I got a very unstable overblow which was very hard to incorporate in playing. You should lift the back of your tongue and lower your jaw pretty much like you draw bend.
P.S. Overblowing is very sensitive to your mouth position. Have as much of the harmonica in you mouth and try to have the harmonica strait to you without any angle, this will help you produce a fuller note. Also this tip will enable you in the future to hide the two steps of overblowing the sound like a regular note producing.
Some useful videos and links to help in overblows:
A recent tip I added from my experience is that low harps (A, G...) are harder to overblow then mid (C, B flat) harps... which I guess is a good thing to know when you start learning.... but also something you can utilize to improve your technique...
I found that overblowing for a month on a low G harp only, really improves your technique as it teaches you to do the most efficient embouchure possible... after a month overblowing a mid range harp looks too easy... :-)
If your tone is good , all you have to do is do a draw bend leave your mouth & tongue in the exact same position it is in for the draw bend & then blow out & you should have a over blow . you are squeezing the air round the arch of your tongue that makes the draw bend so the air is compressed this causes the reeds to overblow. I think a higher key like C would be better for first practising Manjis or MB deluxe/crossovers are good if you can afford I would buy a Buddah harp as he uses overblows all the time in his playing.
Last Edited by on Oct 02, 2010 6:56 PM
Tricksy, pesky things these overblows when you're trying to get them. Some good suggestions above so I will just add that I think for me at least the most important element (though they're all important) is the pressure issue. I liken it to blowing bubble gum (though not the same mouth shaping involved). When you first try this as a kid, you can follow the instructions to spread the gum in your mouth but when it comes to blowing you just blow like your trying to blow out a candle. This as you know doesn't work as you realise with blowing gum you have to build up pressure behind your lips and form a kind of focused pocket of air.
Same thing with overblows, you have to create this pocket of pressurised air (to visualize blowing this pressurised air down to the lower draw reed helps). At first I found popping a quick note out this way was the beginning for me. Sustaining the note came later when I realised the technique and the tone of the note I was trying to sustain.
I helped a couple of people learn to OB at Hill Country so I'll add my two cents. I think it comes more from the throat for me. The pressure is key along with a big open throat and mouth.
My tongue position does not move from 6 blow to 6 draw bend to 6 draw to 6 ob. The only thing that moves is throat position. Now the throat and tongue are together so your tongue will naturally reposition a little....but I don't actually move the tongue.
One thing I disagree with others on is angle/tilt of harp. I'm sure someone else has mentioned this but I've not heard it. ....Imagine a straight laser light coming out of dead center of hole six. Logic tells me that I want this laser to hit dead center of my open throat. To do this, you must tilt the harp up, otherwise, you are not maximizing your breath potential. I play my GMs very deep. The numbers, which are slightly above the holes, ride in the corners of my mouth. My top lip actually hangs over the front of the harp a bit.
I don't like the term "pop" the overblow. If technique and harp are both correct, you can hit and play an overblow or(overdraw) as smoothly as any note with just a whisper of breath.
I also don't like to hear that tone is bad or flat. Tone just gets better and better with practice. ...and to me playing the 6 ob in tune is no different than playing 3 draw 1/2 step bend in tune...all in the ear.
Hope this helps.
Last Edited by on Oct 03, 2010 1:40 PM
