ortrigger
2 posts
May 06, 2009
2:30 PM
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Well, I've been playing for a few weeks now. I think I'm getting pretty decent. All the basics I have down and a couple of more advanced techniques but I can't get anything to bend on my harp. I have a Hohner Old Standby, so, could this just be me? Or could it be that my harp is too cheap to bend notes on?
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snakes
211 posts
May 06, 2009
2:50 PM
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Well it could be the harp, but the only way to know is to get another one. I'd suggest buying another harp in a different key. Don't be afraid to make sure you get a decent one. If you like Hohners get a SP20 or a Marine Band. If you'd like advice as to something other than a Hohner let me know as I'd be glad to share my trials and experiences of the brands I've tried.
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ortrigger
3 posts
May 06, 2009
2:57 PM
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Well, I'm planning on buying a new harp but don't have the money yet. I've been looking at Lee Oskar's lately and like the fact that they have replaceable reed plates and I've heard a lot of good things about them. Also, I would rather not deal with a wood comb.
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Philosofy
186 posts
May 06, 2009
3:08 PM
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I don't mean to discourage you, but you don't have all the basics down if you can't bend. Keep at it, it will come. If you're trying to bend while tongue blocking, the revelation came for me when someone described it as lifting your tongue closer to the roof of your mouth while drawing in.
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ortrigger
4 posts
May 06, 2009
3:15 PM
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Well, I know how to bend. Either my harp is to much of an El Cheapo or I am struggling turning the theory into actual performance. And when I said basics, I meant things like knowing where the first few positions are, reading notes and knowing where they are on the harp, timing, playing single notes, and the only draw note I'm still struggling to get a good sound out of is 1 draw. A lot of this stuff I already knew though.
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Preston
321 posts
May 06, 2009
3:25 PM
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Welcome to the forumn ortrigger. Did you sign in on the thread telling where you are from?
I'm confused. You said you couldn't get anything to bend on your harp, but then you said you knew how to bend. If you've only been playing a few weeks, how do you know you know how to bend? Reading about it and actually doing it is two different things.
From my personal experiences: I started out on a Old Standby and I learned how to bend the 3 and 4 on it, so I'm guessing the harp isn't the problem. Now I have had a harp that you COULDN'T bend anything on the 3 draw out of the box, but that was because the 3 blow reed was stuck.
So I suppose it's possible you have a harp that can't bend, but I highly doubt it. Hope that helps.
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The Gloth
17 posts
May 06, 2009
3:26 PM
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Do you mean that you can bend the other holes ok, but the 1 draw won't bend ? Then indeed there may be a problem with the harp. Maybe try to buy a marine band, a special20 or a bluesharp. I bought once a cheap harmonica made in China than costed about 3 bucks and it bended normally, but I wouldn't rely too much on those either...
Last Edited by on May 06, 2009 3:28 PM
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Aussiesucker
263 posts
May 06, 2009
4:33 PM
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Welcome to the forum.
Bending is not something that is easily learnt in just a few weeks. Some of us struggled for a very long time (months /years) to get it right. Keep at it & one day it will happen. You also think you have got it but when checking on eg Bendometer it shows just how good/bad you are.
Having all the basics down in 2 weeks is truly remarkable. Do you read music or play another instrument?
I use a lot of Lee Oskars and love them. Another good plastic bodied harp is either the Bluesmaster or Harpmaster made by Suzuki.
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ortrigger
5 posts
May 06, 2009
5:56 PM
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I guess that saying I know how to bend is inaccurate. I know the theory behind it and how some people do it but it just won't quite work for me.
Yes, I do play other instruments Aussie. I've played trumpet 6-7 years and guitar for the last couple of years.
Thanks for the welcoming advice and everything.
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GermanHarpist
320 posts
May 06, 2009
6:14 PM
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Hi ortigger, welcome to the forum also from my part...
I can only give you the same advice as snakes. Get another harp... (mustn't be the most expensive IMO). While learning bends and overblows it helped me a lot to try it on different harps. Some harps just bend bad and some bend easily... (the harps may even be the same brand and key...).
Keep on trying.
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germanharpist, harpfriends on Youtube
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Oisin
238 posts
May 06, 2009
6:21 PM
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Hey Ortrigger...try this tip from Buddha. It's on Adams FAQ page and it should help you get those bends.
here's a description recently offered by master overblower Chris Michalek. He describes two things: how to bend, then how to overblow. To overblow, substitute BLOWING for DRAWING in his first description:
"Get a drinking straw. Yep, just a plain old drinking straw and stick it in your mouth and start sucking. Now move the open end of the straw while you are sucking, up towards the ceiling. You may feel the air constrict, DON'T LET IT. Maintain a full airstream, if you can get a full stream of air while sucking on a straw that is ALMOST straight up and down you can bend a note. Keep sucking air, pull out the straw and replace with a harp. The note will bend!
"Do the opposite for overblows. This was tested en masse last week at SPAH [the annual meeting of the Society for the Preservation and Advancement of the Harmonica], where I got at least 22 people to OB in about 20 seconds and they did it on stock harps many of which were lee oskars."
Hope this helps.
Oisin
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ortrigger
6 posts
May 06, 2009
8:17 PM
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Thanks for all the advice. I'll try this stuff and post back.
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Max-T
7 posts
May 07, 2009
1:44 AM
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I've been playing for about 3-4 weeks now and I can say that I also have had alot of troubble bending notes.
I mean I can bend the 4 draw but thats about it. Anything else I try doing the same thing on sounds horrible, but hey what do I care if the family complain they can live with my bad harp playing for now xD
I tend to find that rather then concentrating on getting the bends down the hardest part is getting the rythm of each song and not speeding up or loosing my way.
Does anyone else find this hard? I've tried everything from rocking to tapping my foot and I just keep loosing it about 1/2 way through a song. Anyone got any ideas on something that might help?
Anyway goodluck ortrigger and keep at it :p
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"imagination is more important then knowledge" - Albert Einstien
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ortrigger
7 posts
May 07, 2009
8:41 AM
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Thanks Max. IMO, timing is something that just comes with practice. Although, it might be worth your time and effort to acquire a metronome.
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mr_so&so
91 posts
May 07, 2009
9:31 AM
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I'll add my welcome, outrigger. Just like "timing is something that just comes with practice", same goes for bending. It takes a lot longer than a few weeks to get a handle on this instrument. Have fun and put in the hours.
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MrVerylongusername
297 posts
May 07, 2009
10:06 AM
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Welcome!
Walk before you run.
Bending makes far more sense in a musical context anyway. If you've only been playing a matter of weeks, then IMHO you'd be better off learning the layout of the harp by playing simple 1st position tunes. Work on timing, breath control, good clean single notes and develop your tone (to make the notes sounds rich and strong, not breathy and weak).
If you do that long enough, I'll bet you'll discover how to bend naturally. It'll just happen. And if it doesn't, there's plenty of excellent advice been given here.
Forget bending a while. Keep playing those tunes. Start with a good foundation and everything that follows is much easier.
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ortrigger
8 posts
May 07, 2009
12:12 PM
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"...learning the layout of the harp...timing, breath control, good clean single notes and develop your tone"
I know the layout of the harp. That wasn't too hard. Timing I have down because I've been playing other instruments for 7 years. Breath control is coming along nicely although on draw notes I still struggle once in a while. I've got single notes down. And, IMO, my tone is pretty decent too. The only note that comes out breathy and weak is the 1 draw and I'm working on that. Like I said above, I've been playing trumpet for 7 years already so I know a lot of musical techniques that apply to any instrument. Thanks for the advice though.
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jonsparrow
251 posts
May 07, 2009
12:18 PM
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i was able to bend notes with in the first week or two only because i also play the didgeridoo wich requires similar technique.
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snakes
214 posts
May 07, 2009
12:45 PM
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ortrigger,
I've tried Lee Oskars in several keeys and if you want a non-wood comb harp that is easier to bend, cheaper, AND has replaceable reeds you should look into the Suzuki Bluesmasters (or for another $12 to $15 the Promasters). It took me a lot of effort and time to learn to bend and I found that some harps were just easier to bend on for a beginner. It becomes less important after you learn the technique of bending, but to get it at first it helps to have the right harp in my opinion. You'll need to get them online. Bluesmasters usually go for about $22 US on ebay. Hope this helps.
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ortrigger
9 posts
May 07, 2009
1:15 PM
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Thanks snakes. I'll look into those.
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nacoran
1 post
May 08, 2009
11:51 AM
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Higher harps seem to be easier to bend on when you're just learning. I tried learning bending on a G harp and couldn't get a thing, then I tried on my F# and bam! Once I got some bending action I was able to figure out what it was I was doing and transfer it down to a lower harp after just a few minutes. I have some Lee Oskars, some Blues Bands, a Golden Melody (which bends real easy, but it's an F#), a cheap set of Piedmonts (which don't bend well but for the price still not a bad deal for a beginner), a Bluesband cover on a Piedmont (that one actually bends pretty well too) and some cheap cover on my Piedmont G (the cover is so thin it gets dented in my pocket.) Bendometer really helps with learning to bend, but I don't like their business model. I don't like the idea of shelling out more money every year for the same piece of software.
The Oscars seem to bend real well, but BEWARE! I think they are secretly designed by the same people who brought us Epilady. They rip out more mustache hair than a (well, I'll keep this PG, shoot I had something funny to say too.) I don't know why Oscars have those silly holes on the end. If you are facial hair free, or want to be, then Lee Oscars are a good choice.
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ortrigger
13 posts
May 08, 2009
2:36 PM
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Thanks. I don't really have to worry about facial hair though so I should be fine.
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Beginning harpist and possibly the only LDS person on this forum. :P
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jawbone
23 posts
May 08, 2009
3:35 PM
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Hey Nacroan - you are 100% right about that moustache thing, I gave those darn things up years ago - my 'stache is my trademark!!
Jonsparrow - I can't get the didgeridoo to work - what's the trick - I can get closer to the sound with a Low F (which funny enough was a darn Lee Oskar)
If it ain't got harp - it ain't really blues!!!!
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nacoran
3 posts
May 09, 2009
9:48 AM
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I've heard the Tombo Ultimo plays a lot like a Oscar, but it has smooth covers. Good luck finding one in the U.S. though.
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Andrew
297 posts
May 09, 2009
10:18 AM
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ortrigger, I've learnt from 13 months' harp playing that 99 times out of 100 the answer to the question "is it the harp or is it me?" is "it's me".
But it is good if you are practical enough to be able to take the covers off your harp and know what you are looking at. I'm too lazy to post links to YouTube about tweaking. Others will do that if they agree with me.
What's LDS?
Last Edited by on May 09, 2009 10:19 AM
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ortrigger
14 posts
May 10, 2009
10:04 AM
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Thanks for the input Andrew. I already actually watched a couple of videos on tweaking a harp, including the one that Adam did and did a couple of things to it. LDS is synonymous with Mormon. It's an abbreviation for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
I also tried that straw thing that Oisin mentioned. I can keep the air flow going with the straw almost vertical but my harp still doesn't seem to want to bend.
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Beginning harpist and possibly the only LDS person on this forum. :P
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ricanefan
2 posts
May 11, 2009
12:24 AM
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Ortrigger,
Have you tried the "eee-ooh" method? When drawing, form your tongue and the inside of your mouth as if you are saying "eeeee" then switch to "ooooh".
I used to think I knew how to bend, then I tried playing the scale from the 1 hole to the 4. No go.
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ortrigger
15 posts
May 11, 2009
8:37 AM
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Yeah, I tried that. I'll put in some more practice on it later and see if I'm just trying to go too fast.
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Beginning harpist and possibly the only LDS person on this forum. :P
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ortrigger
16 posts
May 13, 2009
10:09 AM
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Well, turns out it was just me. I was finally able to get a bit of bending out of the 3 and 4 draws. Nothing fantastic of course, but still, it was a bend. Thanks for all the help guys.
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Beginning harpist and possibly the only LDS person on this forum. :P
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