4th Hole Bend - Ku - Yawn Position/Tongue Placement
Hey Dave! Working on the Feeling For The Blues and I am trying to clean up my forced 4th hole Bend.
I have one question about these practice areas that I am working on.
I am trying to utilize a yawning position of the jaw, (dropping of the jaw and opening the airway in the throat) that drops the tongue flat on the bottom of the mouth. Drop the jaw and move it forward a little.
This helps me flatten the tongue on the bottom of my mouth and I can see a clear shot back into my mouth, versus having my tongue blocking a clear path.
I am working on the 4th hole bend and I am visualizing the yawning position of the jaw and the flat tongue and try to sense where the Ku sweet spot would be like you tell Joe to do on your 3 and 4th hole lesson.
The Ku preclicks really put it straight down into my windpipe going down, if I see myself from a sideon view.
I try to get my posture sitting up in my recliner versus sitting back in it.
I setup and yawn and open up the jaw and then do the Ku.
I monitor my bends with the Bendometer. I have a bad habit of reclining in the chair and looking at the monitor. I am situp up and looking straight ahead more.
I do little Ku clicks before I try the bend and feel the opening of the volume of my mouth better due to the yawn position.
I do the Ku's and bring the back of the tongue back while leaving the front of the tongue on the harmonic to get the bend on the 4th hole. I also move the tongue side to side to find it in relation to the molars.
It helps me feel the tongue to start with. Tongues are a little bit stupid and this helps a great deal.
I sense the flatness of the tongue and pull the back of the tongue back.
Is this a sound practice? If I do not do this I can bend it but it is more in the front of my mouth and a relatively forced movement. More tinny sounding versus what I hear you do.
Thanks again!
Will
I teach golf so I can remember 4 like when you yell "Fore", to duck so you won't get hit by a straw golf shot is for "Kee" that rhymes with Tee that is the Golf Tee!
It it is all practice like in the game of Golf.
Thanks David!
Will
Dave, your Bending Study 1 chart shows a Ku area for the 4 draw, but you want me to do a Kee for the 4 draw on the A Harmonica. Is the chart for another harmonica? I really appreciate the help. It is falling into place, with a few adjustments from the good chiropractor.
Will
Thank you... I need to re-lable that diagram.
I am using - I Eeeee. Eye E. Very simple delicate bend. I was right there.
Also working on the slaps for Temperature and always use Tremelo when called on. Relax, Relax.
HUGE CHANGE FOR BENDING...
I am using the JT30 and have switched to the harmonica onto the right cheek and covering up the last 3 holes with my right thumb. It just puts the tongue and jaw and face muscles right in there for a controlled secured bend. You almost can feel the bend before doing it.
Same feel with a great golf setup and stance. You can visualize the ball in flight prior to making a swing. I got to use the mike all the time with this new placement onto the right cheek Via you from the behind the right ear shots.
Will
Great visualization... you no doubt will develop huge tone with this.
The "Ku" or "Koo" is for a very deep bend though, not a 4 draw. "Key" or "Kee" is a closer approximation for the humping of the tongue. You'll feel your tongue hump in the middle of your pallet of teeth... in front of your molars. Also, since you're bending a higher-pitched reed, you don't need to open the mouth as much (dropping the jaw and such)... your entire embouchure will be a bit smaller. The key thing to remember is that you're tuning your mouth to the pitch of the reed before you start the wave-like motion of the tongue for the bending process.
So, in short... smaller chamber with the the tongue humped up more towards the front of the mouth, using more of the front of the tongue. And... all importantly... experimentation and time.