DanP
37 posts
Mar 20, 2009
9:29 AM
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You guys who are proficient at overblowing are way above my league. Even though I have been fascinated by Howard Levy, John Popper, Adam, and others who are masters at it, until recently I had been somewhat ignorant of the process. My way of thinking was that I would never be able to do it, so why bother learning the mechanics of it. So if these questions seem dumb, forgive me. I know there are instuction videos of it on the web but at the present time I only have access to dial-up and it takes forever and a day to download a video lasting more than a couple of minutes. So what kind of harp should I use? i'm afraid to use any of my good expensive harps to start out with for fear of damaging them. Should I use a cheap harp to start with? Should I take the covers off? What make and model of harps are best for overblowing? Should I start by blowing as hard as I can? How should a novice begin? When people get good at it, can they play in all 12 positions, even the complex 7-11 bent positions(I know Howard Levy can but he's a genius)? If anybody wants to answer any of these questions and give comments or advise to a beginning overblower, I would appreciate it. Thank you.
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tookatooka
156 posts
Mar 20, 2009
9:46 AM
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Hi Dan,
I'm going down the same route as you.
This may help, there's a section on overblows and overdraws. http://www.angelfire.com/tx/myquill/
Mike says
The holes in which overbends add new notes not available through normal play or normal bends are:
overblows on holes 1, 4, 5, and 6, and
overdraws on holes 7, 9, and 10.
As I say I'm just starting out on this too but another site is www.overblow.com but it isn't working right now.
Best.
----------
When I'm not blowing, I'm drawing.
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DanP
38 posts
Mar 20, 2009
9:56 AM
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Thank you tookatooka. I'll check that out.
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Preston
222 posts
Mar 20, 2009
10:02 AM
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Hi DanP. Since you've got dial-up, I used the forumn search for you, because I already kinda knew what thread to look for. Here is a good discussion we all had awile back. See if this doesn't answer some of your questions, and if it doesn't answer all of them, ask again!
http://www.modernbluesharmonica.com/board/board_topic/5560960/333232.htm
Good Luck!
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DanP
43 posts
Mar 21, 2009
9:51 AM
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That thread did indeed answer my questions. Thank you very much, Preston.
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MrVerylongusername
198 posts
Mar 21, 2009
10:28 AM
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Does Popper overblow? I didn't think he did, but then I don't listen to his playing so I'm not qualified to say. (It's really not my thing at all).
Anyone confirm or refute this claim by the DanP?
Last Edited by on Mar 21, 2009 10:29 AM
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DanP
45 posts
Mar 21, 2009
11:58 AM
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Maybe I should have used Dennis Gruenling, Carlos del Junco, or Jason Ricci's name in place of John Popper. Popper's style of music is not my favorite but I respect him as a harmonica player. It seems to me that on some of Blues Traveler's recent music that Popper is overblowing. One example is their version of The Devil Went Down to Georgia in which Popper makes his harp sound just like a fiddle. That has been getting a lot of airlay on Sirius/XM radio's Jam On channel. I don't know how Popper gets that effect without overblowing but I may be wrong. I thought I made it clear that I'm no expert on overblowing.
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Buddha
159 posts
Mar 21, 2009
12:52 PM
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If you want to investigate "master overblowers" look into
Howard Levy and Otavio Castro those guys are the best at it.
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DanP
47 posts
Mar 21, 2009
1:29 PM
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Buddha, do you know Brendan Power and how would you rate his harmonica playing? I'm not that familiar with his music but I heard some of his Irish music played on St. Patrick's Day and it really sounded nice. I would like to investigate his playing. He sounds like one of the new breed of players who is bringing something different to the table.
Last Edited by on Mar 21, 2009 5:16 PM
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Buddha
161 posts
Mar 21, 2009
2:30 PM
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Brendan is a good friend. I got to know him very well when he spent 3 weeks living in my house. He is definitely his own player. Amazing music with lots of altered tuned harps. I honestly don't know how he keeps all of that stuff straight in his head.
Irish music is mostly his thing but he's been into Swing style jazz lately and his blues playing has always been great.
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DanP
49 posts
Mar 21, 2009
4:59 PM
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Thank you, Buddha. I looked on amazon and noticed Brendan Power teamed up with PT Gazell for two albums of Swing music. PT Gazell is considered a country harmonica player but he's actually an amazing player who can play anything. Those should be some interesting CDs.
Last Edited by on Mar 21, 2009 5:16 PM
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MrVerylongusername
199 posts
Mar 22, 2009
3:35 PM
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Hey Dan! I didn't mean to offend. I just hadn't heard that about Popper. If he is an overblower, he'd go up a notch in my esteem.
I don't want to threadjack, but my own opinion of Popper sounds similar to yours - quiet respect, but not my thing. I've actually slowly changed my opinion of him over the years as I've been exposed to bits and pieces of his playing here and there. I'd like to compare Popper to PIcasso. A lot of people think Picasso painted in that style because he lacked ability in the classical style. Not true. He was a more than talented artist in the traditional styles, but he went out and did his own thing. Some people loved it, some people hated it, a lot of people didn't understand it. I've heard Popper play 'traditional' style blues harp and he's more than competent at it. Popper is the Picasso of harp. He plays in a different style because he wants to, not because he can't do it the traditional way, but people still make that assumption. I can appreciate his skill (try copying those fast licks). Unlike Picasso though, whose work I love, Popper just doesn't do it for me. I just don't find his usual Blues Traveller stuff very musical. Some people listen to music and hear technical skill over feeling, not me.
My response wasn't a loaded question, weighted heavily with mockery and disdain (like so many comments about Popper). Just honest curiousity.
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DanP
51 posts
Mar 22, 2009
4:15 PM
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No problem, MrVerylongusername. I feel pretty much the same way. Back in the 1990s I couldn't stand Popper's playing. I thought he played way too fast. Sort of like all technique and no soul. Plus he used to begrudge harmonica players(except himself), saying most all sound alike. Popper's playing was indeed different but not necesarily better. However in the last 5 years or so, my opinion of him has almost done a 180. His playing and his music seems to have gotten more tasteful, like he has matured with age. I've seen some recent pictures of him on the internet and he doesn't even look like the same guy. He doesn't wear glasses anymore and he's lost about 100 pounds. I think his playing has undergone a transformation too.
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Spl20
15 posts
Mar 22, 2009
10:24 PM
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I'm no overblower, so I'm only repeating what I've learned from those that can. Actually on getting started Chris has a video that uses a straw that was helpful for me to learn the basic technique the first time. The one thing I'd say about what harp to "learn how on" is to use the harps you have,(OB4,5,6 with 6 being the easiest,IMHO) secondly it doesn't require any great pressure so forgot about forcing it, it's a technique not will power. Sure a custom made harp would make them easier but my understanding is your trying to learn them, so wait till you know how. The links given here are great, read everything and keep trying. I can do it but lack in so many other areas I just don't practice them enough yet! hopefully this covered a couple more of your questions.
Last Edited by on Mar 22, 2009 10:27 PM
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