Willieblue
1 post
Feb 19, 2011
11:05 AM
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I'm a novice harpist with a Hohner Blues Harp MS, playing G blues on a C harp. I've learned to bend the 3 and 4 draw notes pretty well, but am having real trouble with the 2 draw. Could it be that that reed is defective or too stiff, or is that one normally tougher than the others for beginners?
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toddlgreene
2613 posts
Feb 19, 2011
11:08 AM
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Welcome aboard. As a novice, the first thing to do is develop your embouchere and control your breathing. Now, does that mean the reed is gapped right, and you are wrong? Not necessarily. But, before you start popping cover plates, work on the aforementioned techniques. When you are convinced it isn't you, see the many great vids on youtube about gapping-that's the first thing to check with a reed that is a bad actor. Good luck!
Also, the 2 draw is one of the roughest to get right as a beginner with good intonation. Don't feel like an oddball!
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Todd, the conservatively liberal moderate of the moderators
Eudora and Deep Soul
Last Edited by on Feb 19, 2011 11:13 AM
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Rich
17 posts
Feb 19, 2011
12:28 PM
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If you go to 'the store' there is a download lesson on tone control and stuff. Adam covers the 2 hole problem and can fix it for you. Its something that I struggled with as a beginner. I'd also recommend having a look at the other lessons in 'the store'. They improved my playing and repertoire a great deal.
As toddlgreene says, embouchere is important. As my teacher told me : Make sure you have 'kiss your missus' not 'kiss your granny' lips!
Good luck
Rich
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zipperhead16
27 posts
Feb 19, 2011
5:25 PM
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Embouchure is very important. Actually it's everything, and Adams video will help you with the 2 draw. I've never broken the muscle movement down on the 2 draw until I read this but I tend to draw with the diaphragm and give a sort of tug/pull with the back of my throat too. Like a bend, it's hard to explain but it works for me.
On a personal note: I had a MS Blues Harp once. Sounded terrible when I played it. It was all me but my kids guitar teacher talked me into a special 20 and it was the best move I made. So much easier to play and bend with.2 draw was better too. The MS harps are just too big for me.
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