3'' to 3' in Sonny's Bird
In the very nice Sonny's Bird lesson, 5th chorus, I am struggling to control the 3" to 3' transition, either as dip or more separate just after (I would also be content with no dip but being able to stop at 3'...)
I have found a specific way to do it, but as usual I wonder if it's a good idea to practice it, or if it will become a bad habit...
That way is to use the jaw: start with a low dropped jaw for 3", then just close it to get 3'.
Only on the low-F and G, I found I can vary the depth on my 3 draw bend by moving the jaw vertically instead of the tongue horizontally (which I find hard to control on 3 draw). On the A and higher, I can't use the jaw that way. This means that if I explore and confort this new technique, it will maybe remain specific to low harmonicas...
In a lesson, you mention using jaw motion for 3" tremolo, but not for real deep pitch changes.
Yet, for me on G and low-F, after some tries at this jaw technique, it seems easier to control moving from 3" to 3' and back.
Do you recommend going for it?
Hello ÉricD. I don't see any issue with this. I do recommend that you continue to practice the 3'' to 3' bends by humping more of the front of your tongue further forward in your mouth for the 3'. For me, I hump the middle-back for the 3" and raise my tongue in the middle-front for the 3'.