Comments for Harp Surgery

Comment on It’s Bad You Know – R L Burnside [..with tab] by Wilf

Wilf — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 12:15:12 +0000

Hello again! No you don’t have to join a group, I just have to find time to approve our incoming comments so they can be posted safely on the site. Did you check out that 1 Draw yet?
Doc

Comment on It’s Bad You Know – R L Burnside [..with tab] by Wilf

Wilf — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 12:12:41 +0000

Hi Curly! Thanks for stopping by. The bold 2D is to emphasise the beat mid-way through the phrase. I’ll try to upgrade the tab and add sound files to make it simpler to follow; I also think this will help demonstrate why the 1 Draw and bent 1 Draw are crucial to the piece – sometimes as passing notes and other times to complete the main phrase. Meantime, check it through again very carefully. If you don’t think the 1 Draw is the right note, let me know what you’re hearing.
Doc

Comment on 3rd Position Blues Harp – An Introduction by Wilf

Wilf — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 12:00:25 +0000

Thanks Ben. Great to hear from you and this is great advice. It’s been a while since we saw you and the Melotones at Biscuit & Blues in San Francisco! We still have your card on the fridge! Keep in touch.
The Good Doctor

Comment on Introduction to Sonny Boy II Harmonica Technique by Wilf

Wilf — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 11:53:42 +0000

Hi Cain,
Welcome to the Surgery! I’d be happy to connect on Skype and see how you’re doing if this would help.
The Good Doctor

Comment on It’s Bad You Know – R L Burnside [..with tab] by Curly

Curly — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 12:18:11 +0000

Hey this is great but where are all teh comments?? do i have to join something??? wjats the go here please?

Comment on 3rd Position Blues Harp – An Introduction by Russell

Russell — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 22:41:09 +0000

Hello wilf,
About my question concerning 3rd position a week ago
After your reply I have been rollin up my sleeves and gittin dirty with no prisoners.
I’ll go to a jam tonight and play with my friends on “Death Don’t have no mercy” in Em
and “Walkin Boss” in Dm. I will pull it off. Thanks for keeping me determined. The 8 hole is not yet perfect but cummin….Russell

Comment on It’s Bad You Know – R L Burnside [..with tab] by Curly

Curly — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 21:47:19 +0000

I love thi ssong adn as simple as teh notes are it doesnt seem right to me to go down to 1 draw? Also what does the bold 2D mean please?
Brilliant site i love it thanks.

Curly

Comment on 3rd Position Blues Harp – An Introduction by Ben Bouman

Ben Bouman — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 23:57:58 +0000

Hi Stuart …

A while ago I posted next on Tony Eyers website/Harmonica Academy..
I answered a post about having problems with hole 2 draw.
You could try the exercises as well on holes 7-8-9-10 …!!

this is the copy of the answer:
There are 2 reasons why it all feels ” different”..
1. Most brands use shorter reeds for the higher pitched harps. In general: from G to C they use long slot reeds and from d to F short slot reeds.

So , G has long slot reeds and these require a bigger embouchure/resonance room than a D harp.
And this is reason nr 2.

It takes some time to automatically have the right embouchure on a harp. On a G harp you need to lower your jaw, to have your throat more open and relaxed than on a D.

Most players are not used to play with a big embouchure and therefore most players have a problem with with 1-2-3 draw ( esp.2).

Try this ( and I wrote this some time ago in another post):
Sit down on your couch, lean backwards till you can relax your neck/rest with your head on the edge of the couch. Pick up the harp and put the harp in your mouth without any muscle tension in your lips/face…
Blow holes 1-2-3 for a relaxed chord..no more than 50% volume…simply breath out.
Than do the same when breathing in…
After that breath in again and slowly make your embouchure smaller till you hit hole 2. When you still have a problem hitting a clear draw, breath in while imagening you make a EEEE sound. From there you can go to a AAA, to a OOOH and finally a UHHHH sound. You may notice that you when you are near the OOOH the note starts to bend.

Try this exercise on all keys/harps and work your way up and down, from G harp to F harp and back.
After a few times you will start to feel which embouchure is needed for a certain key….and after while you will do this automatically

Please feel free to ask any question you have..if possible I’ll be glad to answer them.

This offer goes to anyone who’s reading this!!

………………………………………………………….

Ben Bouman
For skype lessons: search for: beta-harps or Ben Bouman

Comment on Introduction to Sonny Boy II Harmonica Technique by Cain

Cain — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 12:25:55 +0000

This is totaly brilliant as iv been here and there trying to gain some wah wah intermediate approach, as i have been stuck with a good wah wah but with little effect as in choking the harp ?? i thought this was bad as tought by someone on youtube but clearly its the grit behind sonnys wicked sound… can any one help me any further i would be real gr8tfull.

Thanks for a truley shit hot web site and info on throat vibrato too, not to mention intoducing me to the late GARY PRIMICH sssweet

Comment on 3rd Position Blues Harp – An Introduction by Wilf

Wilf — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 20:13:31 +0000

“I have to wonder if there is some kind of magic about playing the 6,7,8 holes” To physically get the best sound out of them, you need to push them. They’re shorter reeds so they’ll accept some punishment. To get the best out of them musically, you’ve got to throw away your comfort zones, roll up your sleeves and get messy. It’s the border country between bottom and top end. There’s bandits and banjos in there. Jump in with them, exercise your natural punk ethic, and just do it! No prisoners.