2/3 draw suddenly failed
Hi Kinya,
I'm new and have been following BH.com for about a week. For the first 5-6 days I was able to play the low draws no issue, then on Friday my 2- and 3-draw cut out on me immediately, in the middle of a practice session. For two days I tried every tip I could find related to "if you're new and your 2-draw stops, it's you." Eventually I gave up--nothing I did could get even a warble from either hole.
I opened it up and tapped on the reeds, and low and behold (EDIT: 'lo and behold'--oops) it started making noise again. However, I've noticed that it's a LOT harder to hit either note than it used to be. I can still get both on my old C harmonica (I'm using an A-key Special 20 for the class).
Is it possible I messed something up, or that something got messed up when I was first playing? I didn't see anything in the reed slots when I opened it, but when I tried drawing with the cover off (in the mirror) I could see that neither reed moved at all until I tapped them with a toothpick.
Any advice? Any way I can clarify for sure that this IS (or is not) just a beginner issue?
Thanks in advance!
Thanks for the tips! I'll watch the videos and give it a shot after that.
Thanks for the advice. I followed that post and the videos and everything's almost back to normal!
Still not clear on how the gap sizing directly impacts the play--it sounded from the video like a too-large gap rather than a too small gap required you to play harder?--but I took your advice and opened them up slightly. I think I like the 3 draw better than ever now. Still need to do a little dialing in on the 2.
So yes, you can play harder if the gap is bigger. But in general playing too hard is not good, softer is better since you have more control and can play for longer without having to breathe in the opposite direction. Also, if you make the gap too big you make it more difficult to achieve overblows (not that I care that much about that on the 2/3 draw, I can't overblow those, but when I want to try it having a big gap makes it more difficult to activate the draw reed when blowing, IIRC). Anyway, as usual Winslow has the answers at https://www.bluesharmonica.com/gapping_bending#comment-4818 :-)
From his response directly:
That said, raising or lowering a gap too much can make response suffer - too wide and it gets leaky and unresponsive to soft playing. Too close and it chokes up under normal playing volumes.
Glad to know gapping did the trick!
Hello All, terrific dialog between you two (three if you count Winslow ;o) Welcome aboard Brenton to the whacky, and enjoyably addictive world of harmonicas.
Another resource for you, are the Harp Tech Study Videos that David and I created for our members. There are currently seven installments:
-
Getting to Know Your Harmonica
-
Maintenance and Tools
-
Tuning
-
Reed Gapping
-
Reed Replacement
-
Reed Slot Sizing (aka embossing)
-
Sjoberg (Master Harp) Tuner
At the top of your screen you will want to select EQUIPMENT, then scroll all the way down to HARMONICAS, next choose the topic you are most curious about. Like Netflix, binge to your hearts delight! I'll be here to get into the Harp Tech weeds with you.
Your Harpsmith, Kinya
Something (moisture from your breath, singing from your pocket of you keep the harmonica there) might have got stuck and, when you released it, you might have made the gap too wide (unlikely) or too narrow (more likely) when you pushed the reed, and now it makes it more difficult to sound the note. Winslow explains how to do basic gapping at https://www.bluesharmonica.com/gapping_draw_notes_seydel_1847_classic#comment-18559 which you can do with just a toothpick. The trick is patience and finesse. Check the gap and if it's too narrow as I guess open it up a bit. I usually test the gap by just resting the cover plates in place and holding them together with my hand without screws until I find the gap width I like. Too much gap will be leaky, too little makes it harder to run air through and it's more difficult to play the note. Winslow gives a good visual advice: check the gap increases to the left (decreases on higher holes). This has worked for me all the times I was in that situation. Hope it works for you too if that was indeed the issue.
Also next time the holes stop making sound try tapping the harp on your hand or leg to get moisture out and, I'd that doesn't work, playing a draw chord or series of draw chords to release the reeds. If you keep messing with the reeds your can again undo the gap adjustments you liked.
Good luck!