Thank You, Winslow And Joe - Bending Notes!

David here is what I just posted to Winslow. Thank you so much for all of the personal help and your well designed and thought out website.

Success on all notes on A harmonica.

This is what did it. I believe I might not be doing things in a text book manner, but you have gotten me bending.

I had to use my video cam that is in my Windows Movie Maker software to find out what is going wrong in my mouth. It could feel real good but be real wrong.

Here are my adjustments.

HOLDING THE HARMONICA - THUMBS UP BLOCKING RIGHT TWO HOLES

I wanted more consistency in my holding of the Harmonica so I switched to both thumbs up and blocking the right most holes with my right thumb. Thank you David and Joe!

I could then have the Harmonica's back end up a little and have the Harmonica a little deeper in my mouth, which then allowed me to create, (normally) a more rounded tongue that made it easier for the tongue to be angled down and also to make it easier and a shorter distance to bring the newly rounded tongue to the roof of my mouth to the K spot to make the note bend.

DAVE AND JOE'S STICK YOUR TONGUE OUT DRILL - WITH INDEX FINGER - NO HARMONICA - SEARCH OF K SPOT

This drill made the tip or front part of my tongue, (blade) be aiming more down. I practiced this drill with the Harmonica out of my mouth and having my index finger touch my tongue which is out of my mouth. Dave shows Joe this drill.

When practicing songs e.g. I will drop the Harmonica and stick my tongue out and have my index finger simulate the face of the Harmonica. Bad habits are hard to change.

This drill brought my tongue out more so I could, A, feel it, and B have it work with the K spot.

This drill stopped me from using my throat to speak the sounds or creating a gutteral bear growl sound to force a bend. I could not do any other hole other than 1,2 or three with the throat activation process. I believe the K spot probably resides in the Bear's Den down in the throat, but I was lost as what my tongue was doing.

I could not find my tongue or use it without sticking it out more. I used Windows Movie Maker and my Video Cam and found out that all I was doing was doing AHH, like a Doctor would ask you to do.

I was voicing the sounds but not at all using my tongue. That's history, good riddance.

STOP SINGING DAMN IT - WHEN K SPOT MOVES, IT SINGS

Don't make any on purposeful sounds, let the proper establishment of the Harmonica in my mouth and concentrate on the draw note to the right of my tongue. The creation of the correct placement and the harp with my new grip allowed me to find my K spot and let my newly extended rounded tongue go up to the roof of my mouth and then squeeze it forward.

CURVED TONGUE AND THE K SPOT, WITH A "L" ON IT'S BACK

By sticking my tongue out of my mouth it created a curve or more of a hump in the tongue's shape that later on when I felt for the K spot , (not saying K) but where the K spot was defined by my roof of my mouth and my more humped tongue.

USE THE DIAPHRAGM - STICK THE GUT OUT

To drop the note, I DID NOT REALIZE THAT I HAD TO stick my diaphragm or stomach OUT to do this. It was probably taught somewhere but I did not do this. This is huge. That kicks the note down big time.

THE BEND - HALLELUJAH

During the bending I then only concentrated on the K Spot trying to bring my bent tongue UP to the roof of my mouth and squeeze it FORWARD towards the front of my mouth. I concentrate on a L SHAPE like this

|_______

My tongue would be curved a little up and my tongue sticking out onto my Harmonica with my new grip.

THE MARCH FORWARD TO BEND THE NOTE - K SPOT AND "L" DO THEIR THING

All I do know is to have my tongue go to the roof of my mouth, (where the K spot is) and move everything forward with the L shape that is on its side. I use my diaphragm to kick it in its butt.

I can now sense and feel the pressure in the constricted area where my newly humped tongue is going UP to meet the K spot and then both of them are going with my L shape FORWARD.

I AM NOT TRYING TO SAY ANY SOUNDS NOW BECAUSE THAT WOULD GET MY DAM THROAT WORKING, the moving forward after going up and the constricting pressure GENERATES THE CHANGE OF SOUND. Not me.

Voila, I bent the note. Yes!

SUMMARY

I had to open my mouth and see what is going on. I used a movie maker.

I stuck my tongue out. Steadied the Harmonica with a new grip. I achieved the tongue block and have the note that I wanted to bend on the right side.

I forgot the sounds and the throat.

I stuck my tongue out, steadied the Harmonica thought of the note that I wanted to bend, sensed what the top part of my tongue would be doing to meet the top of my mouth to initiate a K consonant. Not a K sound.

I stopped singing or speaking any sounds just using feel

The top of my tongue and K spot then came together and they moved forward with a laid down L shape to the front of a squeezing constricting front of my mouth.

Thank you Winslow and David. You guys are great!

Now on to fixing the economy!

Will Out