Re: [Harp-L] repair notes

["Bob Maglinte" <bbqbob917@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: <icemanle@xxxxxxx>
To: <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Tuesday, October 25, 2005 12:21 PM
Subject: Re: [Harp-L] repair notes


> Stop blowing them out.
>
> In other words, you are using too much force.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: TomEHarp@xxxxxxx
> To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
> Sent: Tue, 25 Oct 2005 09:44:43 EDT
> Subject: [Harp-L] repair notes
>
>
> i don't play much of the blow notes on a c harp. but when i have to blow 9
> and 10 i blow them out what i mean by that is they don't work anymore.any 
> of you
>
> harpers know how to fix this problem????
>
>
> tommy

Hi,
Gotta agree with the Iceman here BIG TIME!!!!!!!!!!!! Too many diatonic 
players tend to use an excessive amount of breath force for EVERYTHING, and 
yet they're the first people to constantly whine about how bad their harps 
are and the cold, hard, brutal truth they refuse to face is that they 
themselves are the chief cause of their problems. Excessive force causes wet 
mouths, leading to harps going out of tune quickly, swollen wood combs, poor 
tone, poor articulation, and very quickly blown out harps. You need to use 
about a good 50-75% LESS breath force and then everything will take care of 
itself, and not only the financial benefits of harps lasting longer will 
come, everything else about your playing will also dramatically improve in 
turn. The players most guilty of it are loathe to admit it or even know 
they're doing it, and this is most prevalent in the note bending process, 
and 9 and 10 blow are two CLASSIC symptoms of this.

Sincerely,
Barbeque Bob Maglinte
Boston, MA
http://www.barbequebob.com
MP3's: http://music.mp3lizard.com/barbequebob/