BeginnerHarp
1 post
Jan 16, 2010
6:20 AM
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Hi, everyone... I've started learning how to play diatonic harmonica(Hohner Marine Band Classic B) about 1,5 month.I've had a hard time,learning bends...Still with no result.:( I've already asked for help on several russian forums...But everything was in vain.No clear explanation appeared.May be there's anyone here able to give me a piece of advise?
If there's already been a topic about bending on this site, I would appreciate if someone gave me a link as I didn't manage to find it.I suppose there should have been someone else before me,asking the same question.
P.S.:Sorry for my English. I know it needs more practice...
Last Edited by on Jan 16, 2010 6:45 AM
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Sarge
16 posts
Jan 16, 2010
6:26 AM
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HI BeginnerHarp,
Your English is much better than my Russian. I'm not good at telling how to bend, but you can try this. As you are drawing a note bring your tongue back and tilt the harp up a little. There should be some one come along here soon that can help you much more than I can.
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BeginnerHarp
2 posts
Jan 16, 2010
6:32 AM
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Thanks a lot.:)I'll try to follow your advise about tongue and tilting. Though till now moving my tongue seemed to be useless.:(
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CJames
121 posts
Jan 16, 2010
6:37 AM
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Different mouth techniques for different holes. I'd say the lower holes, the mouth position is kind of like a yawning position. drop your jaw and let the back of your tongue sit flat. also say eeeeeee-OOOOO. the "OOO" will help you bend it down too.
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The Happy Harper
38 posts
Jan 16, 2010
6:46 AM
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Try www.bluesharmonica.com it is only $17 for one months worth of access to tonnes of info. I would imagine if you got on for one month as a beginner you would have more than you could work on for 6 months.
I am not part of that site in anyway I just know that if it existed years ago when I started out I would have signed on for sure.
If you go there and watch the lesson demo he goes over bending a bit and it will give you a good idea where to start. In the demo he talks about going from a SHHH sound to a KKKK sound with your tounge that mimics the move you need for bending and come to think of it that is a good way to describe it.
There are also lots of youtube videos on it and that is probably better then reading about it to get you going.
My advice...
learn to get one note first.
then take the 3 draw and play it with your tongue tip at your bottom teeth and tongue flat.
draw the air in gently (bending is not a move that requires power or playing hard, just technique)
drawing in the same constant gentle air flow move your tongue only so the back of the tongue touches the top of your mouth just in front of your throat. Like making a K (at least in english it is a K).
If you explore this you should hear it starting to bend. Try playing simple tunes that have a bend in them so you also get your ear used to leading your technique. If you have in your mind the note you need it can be easier to bend to it or closer to it than if you just try and bend.
I am sure others have there way but I hope this helps.
good luck,
Jason
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BeginnerHarp
3 posts
Jan 16, 2010
6:58 AM
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Thank you, Jason. I've already learned to get one note and already play some easy no-bend tunes.:)I'll try to use your technique.
About using pay-sites,I guess real lessons for the same mony make more sens.I actually pay for nothing in enternet. Here you can find almost enything for free.So what's the point in spending mony for a poor student?:)
Still I'm gonna keep the site in mind.:)
CJames
And is there enything in common for different-holes tehniques?
Last Edited by on Jan 16, 2010 7:01 AM
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CJames
122 posts
Jan 16, 2010
7:22 AM
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I guess the higher you go up, the more the positioning of the tongue s involved and less throat action.
When i started bending, i started on the 1 hole. after i got the technique, then i started on the 3 and 4 hole. the 2 hole bend took me the longest to get.
The best advice i can give you from here is to experiment with different mouth/throat/tongue movements on different holes until you start to notice somthing different. Once you get a slight bend, try to do the action again and just go from there
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BeginnerHarp
4 posts
Jan 16, 2010
7:30 AM
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Yes.I've heard of the method.In fact it was the first advise I got. And I folowed it... With no success so far...:(Well, I'll just keep trying,using all the ideas I get in this topic.
Last Edited by on Jan 16, 2010 8:22 AM
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rbeetsme
135 posts
Jan 16, 2010
7:36 AM
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My wrestling coach used to tell us that to really get a move you had to practice it 10,000 times. Same here, sounds like you are moving on, keep working on what you know and the bend will come. It's hard to explain, I learned by drawing with more force and pressure untilI forced it to bend, that was 30 years ago, I no longer draw in so hard, maybe I was forcing my tongue up toward the roof of my mouth. Keep chugging!
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tookatooka
1012 posts
Jan 16, 2010
8:09 AM
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Hi BeginnerHarp, first of all don't get too frustrated. The more relaxed you are the easier it will be. There shouldn't be any tension or tightness in your face muscles.
The best bit of advice I could give is to whistle. Whistle up and down the scale and notice how your tongue moves in your mouth and how you enlarge the space in your mouth as you go up and down the scale. Try and whistle the deepest note you can.
Now do the same again but drawing air in instead of blowing it out. Do the same again with your harmonica and experiment a bit until you hear a slight difference. You should then be on your way to bending.
Try it on the four hole first and then the three and two and six. You may have to adjust the technique slightly with each hole but after a short while muscle memory will kick in and you'll wonder why you found it so difficult. You do not need to draw hard, just a nice relaxed draw is all you need for any hole.
Please let us know how you get on and welcome to the forum.
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Last Edited by on Jan 16, 2010 8:18 AM
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BeginnerHarp
5 posts
Jan 16, 2010
8:15 AM
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Thank you, everyone!:)I'll keep all you said in mind and keep working hard.:)As soon as I'm through with my exam in 4 days I'll try all you've told me about.:)
And thanks for a chance to practice my English.:)
Last Edited by on Jan 16, 2010 8:18 AM
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tookatooka
1013 posts
Jan 16, 2010
8:19 AM
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Your English is excellent by the way.
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BeginnerHarp
6 posts
Jan 16, 2010
10:39 AM
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I wish you were write. But you wouldn't want to know,how much time I've spent,checking each and every word I posted.;)And my accent is terrible beyond believe, so is my spelling if I use no dictionary.Still thanks for cheering me up.:)
Last Edited by on Jan 16, 2010 10:44 AM
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HarmonicaMick
14 posts
Jan 16, 2010
10:48 AM
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BeginnerHarp,
If you're not breathing from your diaphram, that will make bending a lot harder. Do this:
1. Put your hand on your chest.
2. Breath in and out.
It should be your stomach that moves the most, not your chest.
Like tooka said, you do not need to draw hard.
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YouTube SlimHarpMick
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BeginnerHarp
8 posts
Jan 16, 2010
10:51 AM
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I've heard about proper breathing.:) And I've traind it already.Thanks for reminding.:)
By the way,comrades, what do you think about bending with a 10-hole chromatic harmonica? Does it make sence? On one forum I've read an opinion? that sometimes half-band might be helpful.Does an amateur realy need it, or 40 notes will do?
Last Edited by on Jan 16, 2010 11:31 AM
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nacoran
805 posts
Jan 16, 2010
11:30 AM
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I'm a pucker player. I think when I do a bend I sort of think of it like drinking through a straw. My tongue goes to the bottom of my mouth and I drop my jaw a little. Make sure you keep your keep a good seal with your lips though. It's easier on higher harps (I got my first bends on a C) and probably easiest on the 4 hole. Once you get one bend it's just a matter of practicing it over and over and moving it around.
Good luck. Let us know how that works and welcome to the forum.
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BeginnerHarp
9 posts
Jan 16, 2010
11:36 AM
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Wow!=D Thaks for the comparison. It made some details fall into place.:)
I have a C harp. But I'm not quiet sure it's able to bend, as I'm talking about Hohner Happy Green.
P.S.:Thank you,veryone. If only my russian enternet-comrades were so friendly.:)
Last Edited by on Jan 16, 2010 11:46 AM
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tookatooka
1017 posts
Jan 16, 2010
11:54 AM
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Well you've come to the best harp forum on the internet. The people here have had their struggles with the harp in the past and are only too happy to pass on their wisdom.
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BeginnerHarp
10 posts
Jan 16, 2010
11:57 AM
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So I see.:)
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BeginnerHarp
11 posts
Jan 16, 2010
1:40 PM
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I've just understood, how important any comparison is when you play. I followed CJames'es adwise about yawning. I imagined, how my mouth should be opened when I yawn.I've trained. Than I took my harmonica and touched it with lips to try a bend and started yawning.Just couldn't help it. And now every time I try to get a proper jaw position, I just can't stop myself yawning instead.=D
I guess, thinking of kold orange juice, drunk through a straw, is a better idea for a man of my imagination.;)
Last Edited by on Jan 16, 2010 1:45 PM
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GermanHarpist
980 posts
Jan 16, 2010
3:29 PM
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What always helped me learning new techniques was trying it on different harp-models, -keys and different holes...
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germanharpist on YT. =;-) - Resonance is KEY!
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LeonStagg
97 posts
Jan 16, 2010
5:22 PM
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Haken Ehn, who is a member of this forum, just posted a video on bending today. It's on youtube, titled "Bending Notes- harmonica lesson for beginners"
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BeginnerHarp
12 posts
Jan 17, 2010
1:14 AM
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LeonStagg, thanks.That's a good one.:) With all the advices and examples I got here, I'm shure to be bending in no time.:)Thank you,everyone.
Last Edited by on Jan 17, 2010 1:18 AM
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BeginnerHarp
13 posts
Jan 17, 2010
8:15 AM
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Hurray!I think,I've just mannaged to bend 3-hole draw! I've tried all you've tald me about and changed sound manny times. But mostely it sounded loke a kind of "joh".Not much of a bend, I guess.But just now I've heard the sound turning lower, like I've heared on the video. I'm not sure that would be enough for a bend, but at least I seem to get the poit now.:)
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