How to deal with a stuck harmonica during a performance
Hello David,
I have noticed a trend when I play infront of people that it may happen that my harp will get stuck with seliva.
The reason for that is clear for me that simply I stop paying enough attention to my posture and the harp position not pointing up all the time and also perhaps stage fever making me either press my tongue harder against the face of the harmonica or simply blowing harder.
All-and-all I am "more or less" familliar with the reasons for a reed to get jammed with seliva.
I have read many oppinions that salivating durinp playing gets better with time as your body kind of adjusts atn starts salivating not as much. I am still waiting for that moment to come for me :)...
I have been wondering if there might be a workarroung to cover up for a stuck harmonica reed(s) during a performance.
I must say that really sets me off balance and I just stop playing...something that would feel like a disaster if it happens in stage.
Can you please write me how would a proffesional harmonica player react to such a situation?
What came to my mind is keeping a spare harp in the same key at a hand's distance.
Does that sound awkward or is it used parctice?
What would be another quick way to get out of such a situation?
Thanks in advance!
That is the kind of answer I have been looking for!
Many thanks for the tips!
Yes improvising still feels off my reach. I am still fighting to memmorize the C harmonica and did not yet get to the Improvizarion studdies.
I am really looking forward to it though.
Thanks again!
Hello Angel.
Yeah, you're right... performance can cause issues that we don't see in our practice room.
Again, correct... it will get better with time.
The main reason why it throws you off is that you're playing memorized material (I'm assuming you are). In a memorized line, if a note is not available (stuck), it will throw you off. A professional player is commonly improvising, so when a note gets stuck, they avoid the note until they clear the clog.
To clear a clog we commonly hit the note harder, and even better, as a chord (playing a chord can clear spit well).
As for you, if you're playing a memorized song, you'll have to find a rest spot in the music to do a quick chord to unstick the reed. You can make it rhythmic, so it doesn't sound like you're playing a random chord. If you don't have a spot where you can do that, you'll need to create a spot. This may make it hard to get back into the song, but it has to be done.
Yes, you can have a backup harp. I don't personally use backup harps on the bandstand, but it's an option... just keep them on hand for a quick swap.