I just learned the 1 hole overblow. The way I do it, which is the only way I heard it done, is to push the air out of your mouth with the tongue. However, this restricts the length of the note. Plus I have difficulties hitting the 1ob without playing the 1 hole draw before.
Does anyone know of a 1 hole ob technique that lets you play the note freely as possible with the other ob notes...?
Is there any pro harp player you know that can do that?
Hey German, I can sustain it. The embouchure needed to sustain a 1 overblow is WAAAAAAY back in the back of your throat. Back by the uvula. You shouldn't have to use your tongue. Do it the same way you learned the 6 overblow... 1draw bend and then reverse to a blow note.
I've found it a LOT easier to hold the 1OB if the draw reed is already in motion, so going from the 1 draw to the 1OB means you can hold it longer. I've also noticed that a softer attack than the 4,5,6 OBs helps.
Lowering the gap on the draw reed as well seemed to improve things, but as always it's a real compromise between setting the reed for overblow and setting it for regular playing.
If I recall correctly in Howard Levy's New Directions video, he described the 1OB as a passing note, that even he sometimes found hard to hold (or maybe it was Jason in one of his YouTubes - curse my ageing brain.)
I pick Jason's brain whenever he comes to town. He says you need to gap it tight but then the blow or the draw can stick on you. Almost need 2 harps-one gapped for 1OB and one gapped normal. Preston - that was nice. How tight did you gap it? I tend to play very percussively. Does it stick on you?
Last Edited by on Apr 16, 2009 7:33 AM
Tuckster, Yeah, it is gapped pretty tight. Sometimes the blow reed chokes if I attack it hard, but I'm typically a soft player, so it works out pretty well for me. I can see the effectiveness of having two harps if you were gigging.
MVLUN, I used to ONLY be able to sound the 1OB after a 1draw bend, but with practice I have managed to be able to do it on a regular basis from any starting point. But you are correct about it being easier if the draw reed is already vibrating. I also find it easy to do immediately after the 2 draw whole step bend, because your embouchure is already ready. This was a Marine Band A harp by the way. I have an Ab and Bb Delta Frost I can do it on too. My C Blues Harp I can kind pop one if I try real hard, and my D Blues Harp...forget about it. My low D Big River...not a chance in hell.
