Douguitar
12 posts
Feb 19, 2011
2:06 PM
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Question from an almost newbie: I notice that the hole sizes differ between my Blues Harps and Lee Oskars. The Oskar has wider holes but the BH´s are longer, which I´m sure you already know. Sometimes I find one harp easier to play than another,I suppose this is obvious - but how much does the hole size affect the way we play? I suppose the mouth shape must change a little, but what about the amount of breath needed to sound a note, especially a bent note. I find a L.O. harp in A harder than a Blues Harp in the same key, for example. The BH seems to bend easily out of the box, even the 3 hole bends. After a few blows I get used to a change of harp anyway, but I jut wondered what the rest of the world thought as I am the only harp "player" I know. Anyway, it´s after 23:00 so time to stop playing:) Thanks!!
Last Edited by on Feb 19, 2011 2:08 PM
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thechangingcolors
43 posts
Feb 19, 2011
2:09 PM
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i never change my mouth shape, but you have to compensate for the slight difference when jumping from one hole to another thats not right next to it. sometimes when i practice on my marine band for a while and then pick up a suzuki promaster ill miss a note because the holes are just a tiny bit closer together.
Last Edited by on Feb 20, 2011 5:41 AM
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Icemaster
18 posts
Feb 19, 2011
2:57 PM
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When I first stared playing, it really affected me. So much so that I went out and bought a SP20 which is smaller than the LO. But after playing for about 6 months I tried the LO again and found that the size didn't affect me anymore. I still only play marine band sized harps but since my skills have improved, I can play different harps without issue.
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"A harmonica is not just a souped up kazoo" -Mo Rocca
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nacoran
3825 posts
Feb 19, 2011
7:34 PM
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My experience was pretty similar to Icemaster's. It bothered me a bit when I switched between LO's and some other harps, but as I got more used to playing it made less difference. By the time I got my Hohner Puck it didn't phase me at all anymore. I was really expecting to have to adjust, but it was automatic. I suspect there is something in the muscle memory that helps you judge what percentage of the harp you have to move. I wonder if an asymmetrical harp would throw us off.
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Nate
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ElkRiverHarmonicas
565 posts
Feb 22, 2011
6:19 AM
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I played Hohners starting at age 5. About age 30, i added some Seydels to the arsenal. Seydels have larger hole spacing. I had no trouble. I had and still have no trouble switching back and forth.
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"There are only two things money can't buy - true love and homegrown tomatoes." - Lewis Grizzard
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toddlgreene
2629 posts
Feb 22, 2011
6:24 AM
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I switch from LO to MB or SP20 or Manjis without noticing anymore. I started on LOs, and there was a little hiccup at first when I went to narrower holed harps, but your mouth will get accustomed to it.
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Todd
my moderator username is Admin007
Eudora and Deep Soul
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barbequebob
1563 posts
Feb 22, 2011
7:53 AM
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One thing to remember is that you need to make sure embouchure is 100% relaxed and NEVER forced and rigid or you will have problems making any and all necessary adjustments.
Some people complain about holes being too small, but often the real reason why they have trouble with certain hole sizes is that often times, especially with new players, they tend to hold the harmonica a little bit too far away and it prevents them from making proper contact. I've seen this more often with lip block/lip purse/pucker players more than tongue blockers and also a lot of players who started with the LB/LP/pucker method often have trouble adjusting to TB because they not only don't have their mouths opened wide enough or deep enough to have more harp in their mouths, they hold it too rigidly (and the tongue is on the harp roo rigidly as well) and rather than blocking two holes, they only block one, and they hamper themselves plenty, especially when they're trying to TB and do bends or OB's.
It's very important to be fully relaxed in both lips, tongue, facial muscles, etc. or you will always have a difficult time adjusting to things.
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Sincerely,
Barbeque Bob Maglinte
Boston, MA
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