Getting tremolo sound on draw
Hi David,
I'm right at the start of this but really enjoying your lessons. I'm working through the 1st and 2nd chorus of Walk With Me.
I have a couple of questions...
1. Is there a way to search the forum using keywords? I can't see a search button but may be just being stupid?
2. Is there a way to get better at controlling the tremolo on a draw. On a blow it seems very straightforward as I'm use to that with singing but with the draw it feels much harder to do. If I draw very gently I can do it but as I draw more it gets difficult to control and it feels more like a pulse using the back of my mouth to close the air off. Should I be rather trying to do it with breath control from my diaphram?
All the best,
Aidan
Ah I think I've found the answer. I did a search on Google that lead me back to a lesson here on Tremolo and Vibrato! Neat. So I think I understand it, you use your throat not your diaphram. Is this always the case or could you use your diaphram?
There are rare players who use their diaphragm (Jason Ricci for example), but it's much more difficult to get a vibrato with the diaphragm. It's the harder path down the road.
Thanks very much for your quick and detailed reply. I'll just keep at it!! It's a strangely addictive little instrument :)
My pleasure. That it is.
Hello Aidan, I'm glad you're enjoying your studies. Answers below...
1) Not at the moment. We are in the process of a redesign that will have this feature. Sorry.
2) Not the diaphragm, you want to use the same throat muscles you're using for blow. You found the key element... to relax. Try this...
a) Do your blow tremolo and feel what the throat is doing (your vocal folds are opening and closing... like an extremely slight cough)
b) Take the harmonica out of your mouth and do the blow tremolo again. While doing the blow tremolo, change the direction of your breathing (draw), but don't change what your throat is doing... the throat does not change... you're simply inhaling now instead of exhaling. The goal is to consciously tell your body that nothing is changing up top, just the diaphragm on the bottom is going downwards.
c) Do the same as C, but stick a harmonica in your mouth at the end (blow tremolo without harp > breathe in with throat still creating the tremolo > place harmonica in mouth and play softly)
Increase volume and intensity over time. It is more challenging to do the draw tremolo, but you'll get it over time.