apskarp
56 posts
Nov 22, 2009
11:14 AM
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Today I nailed OD 8, 9 and 10. This means that there is only one note missing from my repertoire - the OB 1. After getting the OD 7 it wasn't a big job to find others too. I actually got a little taste of the OB 1 too when I stopped the blow reed with my finger and explored the OB. I got it that way couple of times but it was still VERY hard to find even finger assisted.
Anyway, only one note missing! Of course the OB's and OD's aren't fluent and the intonation is what it is, but I see this achievement as a prove that it is indeed possible for me too to become a good harp player in other categories besides blues too. When I first heard that some people are capable of playing diatonic harmonica as a chromatic instrument it was told in a way like people talk about some circus acts and Guinness records - something that is beyond "normal" people.
Well, for me the chromatic scales with diatonic harmonica have become a possibility. Only thing I really have to do is to practice those so that they can be used seamlessly in the music. That requires lots of work, but thats it - nothing superhuman is required. There isn't anything that is "beyond me" in it. (Actually I noticed I could even bend some of the overbends too a little bit.) And I haven't done much tweaking for the harp to be able to hit those notes - basically just gapping the reeds close enough. With a good custom harp I'm sure it would be much easier, but it's possible with a properly gapped stock harp too.
Why is this important for me? Because now I can really start to practice scales. Blues has taught me how useful it is to learn the scales in improvising, writing your own melodies and understanding the music.
When I will finally get the OB 1 too (and now I'm SURE I really will get it some day) I will play the whole chromatic scale with the harp, record it and take time how long it takes (with all those pauses to find the right note) and then I will celebrate it with a good dinner and music.
Actually I think somebody should form an association or foundation of some kind that gives certificates to people who are able to hit all the bends and overbends of the diatonic harmonica! :) That would be cool!
"The Diatonic Chromatic Association of the World"
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tookatooka
794 posts
Nov 22, 2009
12:22 PM
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@apskarp@ Well done. I've been working on the OB's recently. The 1 OB I can get (just) but it really does take some throat and tongue gymastics to do it (bit like snoring) and then I can't do it to order. What I have found interesting is how different the technique needs to be between the 4 and 6 OB's. The 4 is dead easy for me now and you'd think the 6 would be the same but somehow I have to adopt quite a different mouth set-up to get it. I can't explain how or why but it's all coming home slowly.
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Last Edited by on Nov 22, 2009 12:22 PM
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RyanMortos
483 posts
Nov 22, 2009
12:44 PM
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tooka, was gonna ask how you find the technique different between the 4ob and the 6ob but then I grabbed my harmonica and the 4ob popped right out, haha. Kind of interesting because I'm doing the same technique that I try for the 6ob but it seems to work easier on the 4ob. Maybe my gap is just set up better on my 4 reeds. I know I'm dropping my jaw lower for the 6obs too and you seem to have to close off your nasal passage completely. Well maybe I'll fine tune that 4ob for now and follow in your steps to the 6ob.
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~Ryan
Pennsylvania - H.A.R.P. (Harmonica Association 'Round Philly)
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apskarp
57 posts
Nov 22, 2009
11:03 PM
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Yep,it's funny how something that is easiest to someone is hardest for someone else. The OB6 is the easiest one for me and it took quite a while before I was able to get 4 & 5 after that. Even today the OB4 is kind of hard for me because the blow reed easily starts to play too making a very horrible sound. I found out that I have to move my tongue a little bit to get it sound pure - I guess that's the difference between 6 & 4.
While I was experimenting with the OB1 I noticed that actually if you produce some tone with your mouth (vocal chords) you can help the reeds to resonate too and this produced something quite different - I'm not sure what it was but it wasn't the OB 1 note. Perhaps somebody knows if there is a name for this technique and what you can do with it..?
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jonsparrow
1342 posts
Nov 23, 2009
12:22 AM
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i donno if this was mentioned cause its 3:30am so im not reading all this bbut to get the 1OB you have to drop your jaw down pretty far. thats the trick i figured out for it.
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asilve3
50 posts
Nov 23, 2009
9:25 AM
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@tookatooka I like your description getting the 1ob and how its like snoring. I think thats pretty close. Its also a lot like hacking up flem from your throat.
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http://www.youtube.com/user/asilve3
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apskarp
59 posts
Nov 23, 2009
10:23 PM
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Got it! Yes!!!
That throat thing was very helpful, I tried to explore it all day yesterday without any results but now this morning I tried that snoring thing and then suddenly: strong Eb. It was such a steady sound that I had to check wether I was on the right hole and then I could do it repeatedly. The sound is formed WAY BACK in the throat - no wonder I didn't get results since I was trying to get it from the same spot that I do with the OB4..
Man, now I can get ALL of them. The most problem is on the OD's, especially 9 (and 8 but that's not really needed). Now I just need to cultivate these a little bit and then I think that I'll record my first full chromatic scale this evening (now it's early morning in Finland)..
Happy, happy, joy, joy..!!!
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