The nose part in the 3 draw bend
david,
i Have noticed that when I play the 3 draw with my nose open and breathing through my diaphragm and all that
- everything sounds right. When I close my nostrils I cannot produce a natural note on the 3 (also the 2).
While this, in theory, does not bother me it produces a limitation.
When ever I try to play afast lick - for example 3’-3-4-3’-3-4 the nose needs to open and close fast
eniugh for me to choke :)
is it normal? Or am I a freak? :))
also,
a articulation - when tongue blocking I understand I can produce articulation with k’ or just coughing.
Either method produces a muffled sound.
how donyou Duce the clean t’ sound when tongue blocking?
thanks!
Thanks David.
But I don’t think that this is my problem.
I’ve been playing for the past 4 months about 5 hours a day.
Tongue blocked from day 1. Easier for me than the picker - which I consider like cheating :)
i Think my problem is that my chamber gets weird when I close my nose with my nose muscles. And only with my nose muscles (without changing the tongue position or placement).
i can play a full hard sounding natural 3 draw and 2 draws When my nose is open.
On the A harmonica I do not have a problem with the 2 draw either with nose open or closed.
but on the A harmonica - My 3 draw sound wonderful with my nose open and half step down when I close my nose with my nose muscles...the reason I indicate my nose muscles is because when I close my nose with my other hand - its ok and the pitch is natural 3 draw. When I release the hand - still ok as I breathe through my nose. when I close my nose with muscles - half step down! :(
the problem I have with this is that i run out of breath 2 times faster than any other hole and that playing a fast lick with bends on the 3 it requires opening and closing the nose (Cause I cant sound a natural pitch with nose closed muscle-wise).
only when I close it with my nose muscles that the pitch changes to a half step bend.
It’s not even sound funny or in between - it is a precise half step :)
edit:
I even tried the following - I covered holes 2 and 4 and placed a full mouth with no tongue on the harmonica.
Nose closed with muscle - half step down.
help!
P.s.
your site is amazing! Really good job on your teaching methodology.
Hello Tomhamagniv. I'm glad you're enjoying your studies. It is the same problem, and here is why...
When your nose is open, the cavity is your mouth and nose summed and creates a large cavity, one that does not offend the 2 and 3 draw reeds. When your nose closes, the cavity is smaller, only that of the mouth, which is causing your reeds to bend (your mouth is tuned to a pitch that the reeds don't like). It doesn't happen on your C harmonica, because those reeds are a different pitch than that of the A harmonica.
The fix is to focus on what I teach in the video I reference above.
You'll get, give it practice and time.
David,
your'e an Amazing teacher.
I was sceptical since I was playing for some months now, very dedicatedly and were able to perform everything on the levels of classes until level 4. All the different bends and control.
So I thought I have 2 and 3 draws behind me.
I spent the day yawning with the harmonica and got it to work!
thanks for not "bending”to my explanation And pointing me to the right direction.
My pleasure, I'm glad it's workin well for you.
david,
so, while I have managed to produce the exact pitch of the 2 and 3
draws with TB and nose closed etc., and have done so with the yawning pose you have suggested
in your video (I’m prwctidin it for a few days now for hours a day driving everyone nuts),
i have noticed the note to be ‘soft’ due to the mouth yawn pose.
it is not as ‘hard’ staccato as draw 4. And it is now because my tongue is way back and down.
May thing I’m doing wrong?
Hello Tomhamagniv. It's a fact that those lower draw notes take time for all players to master. They will not sound as good as your 4 draw for a long time, it's just a fact of the instrument. It can take some players a year before they sound the same (others as quick s three months with focused attention). So, you're on the right track, now just give it time.
Hello Tomhamagniv. Answers below...
1) You'll want to always play with your nose closed unless you need it (commonly to open when playing a blow note, to get rid of air). The problem you're experiencing is common, and by going to this page https://www.bluesharmonica.com/faq and clicking on "My 2 draw and/or high-end notes sounds flat, airy or not at all!," you can start working on your technique to overcome this.
2) That's correct, K for draw and coughing for blow. What's causing the muffled sound for you is that you're raising your entire tongue (same issue as your 3 and 2 draws) when articulating. Only raise the portion of your tongue needed for the K.
A cough should not have a muffled sound... again, your tongue is raised higher in your mouth than it should for general playing right now. As you get used to keeping your tongue down for playing (the middle and back), all of these issues will be fixed.
My pleasure.
David