Bending
Wed, 05/10/2017 - 11:39
ive just started to learn to bend I'm using the harp ninja and I'm finding that I've had a good bit of success when I'm not tongue blocking I can hit the bends Db Gb F,Db on hole four, Ab on six and the half bend on five .I struggle with anything on the three draw. On the other notes I can find the pressure in my mouth to get the bends ,but on three draw there isn't any. I can hit the f if I growl at the back of my throat but it's painful. Where do I find the Bb A and Ab.And Also why can't I get any of them when I tongue block, I just don't seem to be able to get my tongue in the same positions thanks Dave from England, by the way great Webb site
Hello Dave. I'm glad you're enjoying the site.
First off, stay away from anything that involves the throat, bending is achieved by the placement of your tongue and does not involve the throat.
The physics of bending are the same for both pucker and tongue block, the difference being that the front of the tongue is busy on the face of the harmonica while tongue blocking, so you have to focus more on the wave-like motion I demonstrate in Bending Study 1.
Work with the linking of the "She," "Key" and "Ku" that I spoke of in the video... that will help. The 3 draw bends are in that wave. With practice over time, you'll find it, it just takes experimenting and persistence.