3firstnames
8 posts
Apr 07, 2009
8:23 PM
|
Hey folks,
Awhile back I started to take notice to how Adam holds the harp. I gave it a try and found it made playing much more comfortable for me. My issue however seems to be getting a good seal with this method, especially when moving around a lot. The weak spot seems to be between my right hand and my face. Any tips? I'm also curious why this grip doesn't seem to be taught by anyone. Now that I'm paying attention I've noticed lots of harp players use it.
|
The Happy Harper
32 posts
Apr 07, 2009
8:42 PM
|
in case you haven't seen it adam actually has a video where he shows how his grip works and how it differs from others.
It seems he slides his right hand thumb around the front of the harp so it sits on the holes and rests it against the right side of his face/lips to get that seal. THen he just slides his thumb up and down when he plays up and down. (IF ADAM IS READING THIS PLEASE CORRECT ME IF I AM WRONG,THANKS)I am not sure if he talks about how to get a solid seal(can't remember). I tried his grip but found another one that is more comfortable for, Jason Ricci shows how to hold it a differnet way in one of his videos, I do my own variation of both but more like Jason Ricci's.
hope that helps
|
Miles Dewar
295 posts
Apr 07, 2009
10:31 PM
|
3firstnames-
You can make an "OK" sign with your right hand. slide the harp in the circle, and keep your fingers over holes 7 and 8....or 8 and 9.....this will help keep the meaty part of your hand on your face and give you a little better tone by having a seal.
I used to play regular, but i started using adam's grip because it kept my arms in an even position.
----------
---Go Bears!!! (Jay Cutler in Chicago baby!) Where's the Pack at now?---
|
mickil
140 posts
Apr 08, 2009
2:53 PM
|
3firstnames,
I spent weeks trying to get a good seal with Adam's 'thumbs up' grip because I like the way that you can get so much of the harp in your mouth without your finger and thumb getting in the way. But, I nearly went mad trying to get the seal. I don't think it is possible.
If you watch Adam's YT Sonny Terry lesson - nos. 152 & 153, he says that he has to hold it the other way to get the wah wahs.
----------
'If it sounds GOOD to you, it's bitchen; if it sounds BAD to YOU, it's shitty' - Frank Zappa
|
Oisin
180 posts
Apr 08, 2009
4:38 PM
|
I was shown a method where you jam the top half of the harp into your jaw to the right of your mouth. The skin seals off the top holes not being played and gives a great seal and also sticking your chin into the space between your hands when holding a bullet mike. They both help to provide a good seal. I hope I have explained this right.
Oisin
|
Miles Dewar
296 posts
Apr 08, 2009
11:17 PM
|
It IS possible. Move the fingers on your right hand to the left more. This will help move the meat of your right thumb onto your face.
Put both of the meats from your hands under your bottom lips. It is going to feel a little tight. The right side of the harp will be poking out. But you CAN get the airtight seal.
The "Wah-Wahs" are hard to get the good clear "Wah" sound though because the positioning of your left hand is different in the two "Stances"(Skate Terminology) and with "Adam's grip" the Left hand covers, and is close to most of the left side of the harp. With the "Shell grip" the Left side of the harp is more exposed.
That's the way I'm looking at it.
----------
---Go Bears!!! (Jay Cutler in Chicago baby!) Where's the Pack at now?---
|
mickil
142 posts
Apr 09, 2009
2:46 AM
|
@ Oisin & MD: I've tried what you've both suggested and I still can't get a decent wah-wah using a thumbs-up grip.
Perhaps the shape of my chin has something to do with it. I don't know. Anyway, I really did spend weeks trying to get as near as possible perfect wahs using that grip, I worked at it night and day and it really did hack me off. It was only when I watched kudzu's ST lesson and he said something like, "I need the wah-wahs for this, so I guess I have to hold it the other way," that I thought, 'If he can't do it that way then it must be impossible, at least for some people.'
I'm glad this topic came up cos I imagine there are a lot of players who have battled with this technique/grip. At least I know I did.
----------
'If it sounds GOOD to you, it's bitchen; if it sounds BAD to YOU, it's shitty' - Frank Zappa
|
Miles Dewar
298 posts
Apr 09, 2009
10:21 AM
|
Do you have small hands? that could be part of it if you do.
I use Lee Oskars and they are much larger than the Marine Bands. Maybe marine Bands are easier with this grip.
But I would just say. Keep practicing different ways to hold it. Good Luck Guys
----------
---Go Bears!!! (Jay Cutler in Chicago baby!) Where's the Pack at now?---
|
Elwood
15 posts
Apr 09, 2009
12:08 PM
|
Myself, I have hands like a florist. I'm restricted to the reference standard grip, and even then I have to work to keep the harmonica sealed at the upper octave.
|
mickil
144 posts
Apr 09, 2009
1:18 PM
|
@MD: yeah, my hands aren't that big, about average I suppose. I've tried it it with MBs, BRs and LOs. However I contort my hands air always escapes from the open web between the right thumb and index finger, I spent ages trawling YT looking for a pro who could do wahs as well with their thumbs up. I couldn't find anyone. I know that you can get a few decent wahs on some of the lower reeds that way, but for me, they are hit and miss.
@ Elwood: I spent quite a while agonosing over wahs in the top octave. In the thread I raised, the general consencus was that they were difficult, if not impossible. Here's the link to that thread:
http://www.modernbluesharmonica.com/board/board_topic/5560960/419016.htm
----------
'If it sounds GOOD to you, it's bitchen; if it sounds BAD to YOU, it's shitty' - Frank Zappa
|
Miles Dewar
299 posts
Apr 10, 2009
1:29 AM
|
- Rest the right side of the harp on the web of your right thumb. this will seal the space by your thumb.
- With your left hand push the harp to the right so your right thumb is over holes 7 and 8. this will help seal the cup around yourface a little better.
* It will be harder to do glissandos at first, but practice will make it easier to slide the harp over your right hand's thumb web easier.
The wah wahs on the upper octave work pretty well with Adam's grip. Adam's grip covers Almost all of the harp.. The "Standard" covers about holes 1-8. That's what it was for me.
----------
---Go Bears!!! (Jay Cutler in Chicago baby!) Where's the Pack at now?---
|
mickil
145 posts
Apr 10, 2009
3:04 AM
|
Thanks for that MD. I find it a bit awkward, but I suppose that's only to be expected at first. I can do it and glisses seem OK, but still no good wahs. Still, I'll mess about with it and see what happens. Thanks again.
----------
'If it sounds GOOD to you, it's bitchen; if it sounds BAD to YOU, it's shitty' - Frank Zappa
|
djm3801
80 posts
Apr 10, 2009
5:11 AM
|
Well, I think it has something to do as well with how you play. If you just play Acoustic, then the good old standard learn in the book grip allows a good seal. If you use a mic, then you really cannot grip it like that and I find Adam's grip and also the similar one used by John Gindick to be necessary in order to cup the mic. I have smallish hands hands - it is not easy. Especially when holding a 10 pound Green Bullet mic. But I grip it the way Adam does because if i ever play in front of anyone but the dog, and use a mic, it is a grip that will work. The thumb around the back does give me a tad more control.
|
Preston
267 posts
Apr 10, 2009
5:33 AM
|
For all you guys who can't get a good seal with the "Two thumbs up Gussow Grip": Do you tilt the back of the harp up, or is it straight from your mouth?
When I started playing (Over two years ago now)I was gripping like this, then I eventually switched to the more traditional grip for acoustic playing. Lately I have come back to this grip we are talking about now, and I love it!
Anyway back to my question: I have a pretty good tilt. I've never looked in the mirror to measure it, but I'm guessing it somewhere between 30 and 45 degrees. I tried holding the harp straight with no tilt and didn't think the grip worked so well like that. But maybe it's just me.
|
mickil
146 posts
Apr 10, 2009
1:11 PM
|
Preston, I don't play with a tilt and I reckon it may have something to do with the seal on a thumbs up grip; the tilt must move your meat in relation to your chin.
That hole - between the meat and the chin - seems to be the hardest part of the seal to keep airtight. I think that when kudzu plays, he moves both thumbs in such a way so as to minimize the gap between each thumb, though I could be wrong. If you read this kudzu, your comments would be much appreciated.
----------
'If it sounds GOOD to you, it's bitchen; if it sounds BAD to YOU, it's shitty' - Frank Zappa
|
Miles Dewar
302 posts
Apr 10, 2009
6:21 PM
|
I got it! I know how to coverthe hole on the bottom.... Use a mic! That will help. LOL J/k
It feels akward but it gets easier. Good Luck to you man, and Keep Harpin'.
----------
---Go Bears!!! (Jay Cutler in Chicago baby!) Where's the Pack at now?---
Last Edited by on Apr 10, 2009 6:46 PM
|
