Trouble with higher notes
Hi everyone!
Im pretty new to tongue blocking, things are going relatively well but it seems that i have some trouble playing draw notes from about hole 6 and above. It sounds about the same as the draw 2 does for some people. Is this a common problem, and if so. Does anyone have some tips to fix this?
Thanks :)
Suction is the enemy.
High notes will squeak and balk unless you allow the airflow through your throat and oral cavity to pass freely, with no drag or impedance, like a breeze wafting through Grand Central Station.
I play with the harmonica not angled left or right, and not up or down, either, and I have always found that all notes respond equally well provided that the opening in my mouth is large enough to allow free, unimpeded passage of air, along with the easy flow through oral cavity and throat.
For me, 8 draw and above was very difficult. The 8 and 9 would just squeek horribly. Then, when practicing Buffet Line, which contains an 8 draw I realized what I was doing. As I was bringing the harp accross my mouth I would keep it in the same position. While this works OK in the lower holes, up in the higher holes it has the effect of increasing the angle between my mouth and the harp, so that a 10 degree angle (so to speak) might slowly become a 30 degree angle. My solution was to bring the right side of the harp closer to my mouth and thus decrease the angle. That provides a more perpendicular seal between the tounge and the harp.