reeds sticking
Mon, 07/24/2017 - 04:48
I am having a lot of problems with not being able to draw my upper holes (usually 8 and 9 but occasionally 7 and 10 also). I can draw easy or hard and they won't play sometimes. It can happen on blow notes also but usually just draws. I'm thinking it may be related to doing blow bends because it never is a problem on the lower notes. They don't get better. I've tried taking them apart and adjusting the reeds but it doesn't help a lot or it just does it again. Why does this happen? It has happened on multiple harmonicas, not just one. Is there perhaps an easy way to keep this from happening or fixing the problem? Thanks, Kurt
It's hard to diagnose without hearing you play or examining the harp.
That said, there's one suggestion I can make.
Examine what your tongue and throat are doing.
Even if you play gently, if your oral cavity and throat are not open, the notes can stick and squeal.
Imagine you have a large, hot potato in your mouth. Its so hot you don't tant to touch it, and you're trying to swallow it. Yout tongue, roof of your mouth and your throat are all opening up to get away form touching it.
Now breathe through the large open tunnel that this creates (the potato magically disappears). Ait should pass freely without noise or drag.
Try using this approach on your high notes. It's the opposite of blow bends, where you're trying to crowd the oral cavity into a small space at the front to tune it to the bent notes.