Purely guessing but might it be gravity? With the harp upside down the blow reeds are naturally being pulled toward the reedplate rather than way from it. This would, in turn, allow them to more easily be choked.
Funny you mention this Miles, I play upside down harp already and I know this scale.
I tried flipping right side up and had the perception that it sounded better that way after trying it a few times.
Maybe just switching the orientation forces you to overblow slightly differently or perhaps your brain perceives that it needs to do something different and it makes you adjust your technique slightly.
Yes it is, I'm not really sure what to deduce from it. I can't play nearly as well right side up, but if I take my time I can hit everything cleanly.
I have often wondered if there was an advantage to overblowing the way I play. I think Roverharp makes a good argument that perhaps choking the blow reeds is more easily facilitated "upside down". While this could be true, I still think there is more involved with it.
Like anything else with harmonica, though, I truly believe practice and focus yields the best results. I am an overblow fanatic and I like to use them in my playing (4, 5, and especially 6). I have been striving since 2003 to smoothly integrate those 3 overblows in to my playing -- consequently I have also ended up adding 3 draw half step (blue third) and 2 draw half step bends to supplement the addition of the 5 and 6 overblow.
What about a total re-orientation then. Make a new comb, Blow reeds on bottom, draws on top, keep the low notes to the left.It would require totally re-designed reed plates I guess. Customizers ? ---------- My YouTube Channel
Last Edited by on Jan 21, 2011 9:14 AM
I recall this post where Dudegizmo offers this perspective on the subject.
'I have created another video where I am trying to help people overblow and this time I am showing that overblowing is not about the angle the air gets into the harp but rather the air density which is caused by the back pressure of the thin passage created in the back of your throat.'
It could be the angle of the harp in your mouth. When it is upside down the airflow is better because of the angle. Try it agin the traditional way but angle the harp slightly up in your mouth. meaning have the back of the harp up towars your nose more. You probably dont notice it but it might be slightly pointed down towards your chin.
..... it could also be the other way as well. what you are looking for is it to be perfectly perpendicular to your mouth.
I have tried dudegizmos suggestion of playing the harp normal way up, upside down, held vertically in one direction then held vertically in the other direction and have indeed found that the OB's are equally easy to play without adjusting embouchure. It does feel weird and a little awkward in the vertical position but once prepared blow at this strange angle, the OB's come out just as well.
It feels (from my point of view) as if it is more to do with creating a pressurised and small pocket of air arriving just behind the lips and directed into the hole.
I used to have to angle the harp up like you said when I would do the 5ob. I've just kind of weened off the angle. Though I do notice a distinct change when I flip it upsidedown. But that could be due to poor technique, which may just ween off in time. ---------- ---Go Chicago Bears!!!---
interesting ditto. 4 OB less apt to sound like new years eve party favor on it's last legs. plus, i learned an overblow scale. nice! ---------- MP hibachi cook for the yakuza doctor of semiotics superhero emeritus
I tried it out with my Buddha harp. Only difference I noted was that OB1 was easier to get upside down. I also experimented by playing the harp in vertical position, both with upside down and regular harp orientation, so it can't be the gravity. I also played it upside down myself, both with regular and upside down harp position. The same feeling persisted, so it's definitely not the gravity.
But as there was noticeable difference, the angle actually has to play part on this.
