Solo Harmonica 3 Ex 1.1 with Side Pull
Fri, 02/16/2018 - 02:28
David Hi Watching you video lesson with Ryan, lesson 18 the first measure, Ex 1.1 you demonstrate the “Side Pull”. It appears that you are holding the trainer/harp at an angle rather than a flat plane to your mouth. Am I seeing this correctly (possible camera distortion) or is this a specific embouchure for this technique?
In your interview with Aki Kumar when talking about practice he talks about ”jamming this thing (the harp) into my check (demonstrated the right cheek) to get better tone”.
Am I missing something re the embouchure in general?
Hello John.
1) Any angle seen on camera is unintentional. The side-pull technique should be performed with your normal hold/angle.
2) That is a technique, one that I use as well. If you refer to this lesson https://www.bluesharmonica.com/lessons/cupping_hand_effects you'll see that with the "standard" hold, "The Pinch" that it's important to have your right thumb against your right cheek. This helps with bass response.
On the "end cap" I commonly use (I sometimes use the pinch as well), you'll see that my thumb and hand wrap around the right end of the harmonica.
In both cases, the thumb is used to cover leakage out of the upper holes. When wanting a super-tight cup, the end cap covers around holes 8, 9 and 10, and the right cheek covers the others (5, 6 and 7 for example if playing 4 draw).
So, in the case of Aki's interview, he's saying to use your thumb and cheek to cover all of the upper holes to achieve a more bassy sound.
The end result is that you ARE playing with the right side of the harmonica angled towards your right cheek. Not that comfortable, but you get used to it if you want a very dark and bassy sound.