Holid the harmonica
Sun, 01/31/2016 - 01:27
Hi David,
Thank you all of the information and adbice you have compiled n this site. It is really appreciated by novice musicians
I have just watched your foundation video, "holding the harmonica and Wa Wa". You discuss holding the harmonica with your left hand and covering the 9 and 10 holes with your right thumb when you create a cup. I naturally hold the harmonica in my right hand, with my right thumb under the harmonica. Do I miss out on certain techniques with this grip or is there a "workaround?" If not, should I begin to start playing by holding the harmonica with my left hand?
Kind regargds
Shaun.
Thank you for your kind words Shaun, I'm glad you're enjoying the site. The advantage of holding the harmonica in your left hand is that you're cupping the more common played bass side of the harmonica, making it bigger when playing amplified, and more exaggerated open/close effects for techniques such as the Wa Wa.
With this said, players who played upside down (William Clarke, Paul Butterfied, etc.) had great tone both acoustic and amplified. Holding the harmonica upside down is essentially the same as holding with your right hand. So, no big deal. Follow my lesson on holding in reverse and emphasis having the harmonica deeper in your mouth so you'll have a more bassy tone and your lips help in the sealing of the harmonica for your amplified holding and acoustic Wa Wa's. It would also be a good idea to watch videos of William and Paul to see what they're doing to make it work for them... maybe not much, but it's worth taking a look.