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Dirty-South Blues Harp forum: wail on! >
Mouth Lip Position for Harp Novice
Mouth Lip Position for Harp Novice
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Jimmy
1 post
Jan 21, 2009
3:21 AM
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Hi Everyone...Just bought a Hohner pro harp (ms) in the key of C. Only yesterday discovered Adam and the forum,fantastic website and learning materials.
As a complete newcomer to the harmonica I am confused between the two approaches to mouth position for single notes.
I watched Gindicks tips on pushing upward and relaxed mouth
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=01c5u-RPvrY&feature=related
and this one... JP ( free harmonica lessons) relaxed deep mouth position, harmonica tilted up at 30 degree on the back end. The Deep Relaxed Embouchure (mouth position)
Up until now I have been attempting to pucker down tight for single holes as I do like and prefer the feeling of my harp being straight into my mouth and not angled up at the back???.
My question is "what do you guys advise on the mouth position for single hole practise"?, its just I dont want to start off with bad habits and then have to undo them, rather start with the right method.
Sorry if this question is very basic but I am a complete novice.
thanking you in advance
Small boy Jimmy
oh ps
Do you guys think its okay to practise from ( Adams material of course which I will start to purchase) but also Peter Gelling teach yourself Blues harmonica 10 easy lessons book and CD? . I started it last night and do enjoy the fact that its showing me how to read and play along with notation. Should I continue with this book and CD?.
regards Jimmy
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=E7gRh-TZ1mE&feature=related
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gene
115 posts
Jan 21, 2009
3:52 AM
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Adam, himself, endorses learning from other sources as well as his. I think it's a good idea to learn from as many sources as you can. (If you feel like spending money, check this stuff out: http://www.harmonicamasterclass.com/books.htm )
I can't play with the harp tilted more than slightly. Single notes are harder, and bending is impossible for me if I tilt the harp too much, but I'm sure not one to speak with authority on that. You do need the loose emboucher, though.
Look in the mirror and blow imaginary eraser crumbs off of an imaginary sheet of paper. See that little hole at the front of your lips? That's NOT how to play the harmonica.
Look in the mirror and draw a nice, thick, imaginary milk shake through an imaginary straw. See that little hole further back in your lips, and see how your jaw is dropped? THAT'S how you play the harmonica. (By your description, I don't see the difference between the two methods you referenced.)
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Tryharp
70 posts
Jan 21, 2009
4:19 AM
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Jimmy,
Welcome to the harp club,
I would recommend learing from all sources you have available, you will soon work out which are relevant for you. I think the important thing with respect to lip position is to position the harp as deeep inside the mouth as you can get, as this will give you the strong tone that you need. Genes advice is spot on, dont have puckered up 'old maid lips'.
My harp would be on a 30 deg angle, but mainly just developed through a natural process and comfort factor. Most of all, if you want to get get good, the best advice I can give is practice every day, 1 hour if you can, and stick at it.
And of course, have fun!!!
Tryharp
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KingoBad
9 posts
Jan 21, 2009
6:15 AM
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I think Gindick is absolutely perfect for the absolute beginning harmonica player. He has plenty of material,decent Youtube videos, an a real gift for teaching the beginner. He also has plenty of written material - Rock n' Blues Harmonica is a good starter and has a CD which you will find helps with any harmonica material. You will find that training your ear will be as important as training your mouth and lungs.
Adam's stuff has plenty for beginners, but I find that as I go back through them I only JUST made it through them as a beginner (giddy and satisfied) and can now pick up the stuff he was REALLY talking about the next time through. There are so many subtleties to this instrument - particularly with the blues - that it is astounding (and fun).
I also have to say Gene and Tryharp are right on. A big relaxed fish pucker with that sucker shoved as far back as possible. Bring the corners of your mouth together to control your hole size instead of your lips. Getting your tone right from the beginning makes it a much more enjoyable experience.
I don't want to throw too much more in the mix, but you could also be a natural tongue blocker too. I would hate to think that we slowed down the next Little Walter by making him unnaturally lip purse when he could very well do it another way.
I'll leave that one to your own learning discoveries to figure out.
Have fun!
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Preston
96 posts
Jan 21, 2009
7:08 AM
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I agree with Gindick being great for beginners. I started out on Jon Gindick. I got his bending and tone exercise first. He got me bending on all holes, and developed my tone quickly. I think Adam's lessons are great, but I always felt he was more for the next step, after you've worn Gindicks CD out. Of course, that's when I found Adam, so I've never looked at his lessons from a raw beginners view!
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djm3801
20 posts
Jan 21, 2009
2:25 PM
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Agree that Rock N blues book / cd is a great start and great fun. Discovered Adam's courses on Youtube first and I would also agree that the Gindick stuff is a good first step. I bounced between Gindick's book / cd and Adam's stuff and Harmonica Academy. Not fun, but it is really school.
Dan M.
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Jimmy
2 posts
Jan 23, 2009
2:35 AM
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Thank you guys, great advice for me to follow.
Non Eraser milk shakes , having fun, big fish suckers on that sucker and Gindicks Rock N blues book Book and Cd are all becoming part of my woodshed experience.
Since all your feedback I have practised it and must admit getting to hit single holes is becoming more possible. Excuse my novice excitement but last night I even started to get my head round what makes it 12 bar blues in the key of G on a c harp and what holes that becomes.
So there I was last night playing tracks 2 to 9 on the Peter Gelling CD with the book open on the laptop screen and trying to get my head round the in -outs ,hearing & feeling the music sound call and response , timing foot tapping, quarter notes,rests, half rests, repeats, whole notes, whole rests.Then it all collapses in on me.
I am not a musician and have no background in music so this is my first attempt to understand the theory behind the blues harp... each visit to the book I get a little more and get these "aha" moments.
The one thing I like is that this Gelling book and cd starts right off with the assumption of single hole notes... my intro last week was with the little kit David harps play the blues today which was great fun but I feel I want more now.
Once again thank you for All the feedback, its really appreciated... right, its time for some practise back to lesson 2 cross harp playing.
regards Jimmy small boy
( small boy is my chosen blues harp persona name I gave myself, I thought in the traditional sense it may inspire me to play better if I had some sort of blues tag)
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Tryharp
72 posts
Jan 23, 2009
3:07 AM
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Hi Jimmy,
Nice to hear you are practising well, how did you come up with 'small boy'?, I like it.
Tryharp
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Jimmy
3 posts
Jan 23, 2009
6:24 AM
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Tryharp
Just watched your Whammer Jammmer on youtube nice sounds, it inspires, one day this may be me. Thanks for the newbie encouragement.
The nickname small boy comes from the fact I am only 5 foot 2 inches hence small for a bloke. My younger brother made up this name for me decades ago and it stuck... but now it can be my harp handle, it would be my delight if Tryharp were to aka me as small boy .
Jimmy
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