Bending Questions
Hi David,
I've been working on the bending techniques, and I am wondering if other people (probably beginners mostly) also find it more difficult to bend certain notes in one keyed harmonica while finding it more difficult to bend other notes in other keyed harmonicas.
Specifically, in my case, I find it difficult to bend Hole 6 but easy to bend lower holes (e.g., Holes 1, 2 and 3) in C harmonica while I find it easier to bend Hole 6 but difficult to bend the lower holes in A harmonica. If I visualize the lengths of the reeds, it seems that there are ideal lengths that are readily bent, hence the easier holes to bend in both C and A harmonicas.
Second question. When I succeed in bending, thereby hitting the perfectly flatted note, I experience the whole skull vibrating as if there has occurred sympathetic resonance. Is that a natural phenomenon? Do you also feel the skull vibrating when you bend a note?
I am stuck in Level 3 lessons because of my difficulty with bending. I am currently about 80% successful with the bending exercises, but I still can't bend the notes in the bending study song.
Thanks in advance.
Hi David,
I realize now that you had already addressed, in your Bending Study 2.5 in Level 4, the issue that I was asking about different bending techniques/challenges for different keyed harmonicas. Being a master musician and teacher yourself, you have foreseen and covered every hurdle that every infant harmonica player would encounter.
Great lessons! I am enjoying every lesson.
No worries, I’m happy to help. I’m glad you’re enjoying the lessons.
Hello Nishiko.
What you're speaking of is a common element in the learning process for bending. Your focus is to use more of the front of your tongue, further forward in your mouth, for the higher bends, and more of the back of your tongue, further back in your mouth, for the lower bends. For the higher bends, focus on the "sh" area and not dropping the jaw. For the lower bends, focus on humping your tongue at the back molars, or past the molars (depending on how low the reed is that you're bending), and though you don't have to drop your jaw, it can be helpful for the lower keys of harmonica. Opening the throat is also good for low bends. These are all general guidelines... experiment... experiment... experiment.
I have heard people say this, but I do not feel any sympathetic resonance in my head. I don't think this is an indicator of anything wrong with your technique.
Keep at it, you'll get better and better with practice over time. Feel free to move on with the material that doesn't focus so much on bending... there's plenty of material to keep you busy and growing on the site.