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Hole 1 draw problem - can't play it loud

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Wed, 11/01/2017 - 12:30
ivaan_ramos
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Joined: 08/08/2016

Hi

i have a problem with the hole 1 draw: i can't play it loud.

I put my tongue the lower possible and drop my jar the max i can, to get a good tune. But the sound in hole 1 draw isnt as loud as the other draw holes.

Wheun i close a litle bit my mouth, in other words, when i don't drop the jar the max neither put my tongue the lower possible, I can play the hole 1 draw louder, but the tune ins't as good.

So i have to choose between playing hole 1 draw loud with poor tune or playing it low with good tune. It happens in several harmonica (A, Bb, C...)

How can I play loud with good tune ?

The problem is my technic or my harmonicas ?

Thanks !

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Wed, 11/01/2017 - 12:54
#1
Expert Winslow Yerxa
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Joined: 01/15/2010
Hole 1 is unique

If it happens with different harmonicas, it probably is not the harmonica.

Maybe you are leaking air when you play the note. If that is true, then you need to seal your lips and tongue better on the harp. But if the note bends when you do that, you may be convering part of the hole.

Hole 1 is different from every other hole because there are no holes to the left of it. You have the end of the harp and then - nothing.

So, if you are tongue blocking, and you are playing Hole 1 with the right corner of your mouth, the left corner may not be on the harmonica - it's out there in the air.  

What do do? There are three possibilities.

  1. Don't try to keep you tongue only on the harmonica. let it extend past the left end of the harp. What do you do about the part of your mouth that is not on the harmonica? Simply let the left part of your lips come to meet the tongue so that they can seal off any air flow where the harp is not in your mouth. 
  2. Switch so that you are playing Hole 1 with the left corner of your mouth (corner switching). Just move your tongue to the right so that it covers the right corner and opens the left corner.
  3. Take your tongue off the harp and use your lips to get a single note (puckering, or lip blocking).
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Thu, 11/02/2017 - 12:26
#2
ivaan_ramos
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Thanks a lot, great and

Thanks a lot, great and complete answer !

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