RE: [Harp-L] Re: Why can't I bend?

["MLeFree" <mlefree@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Steve Abercrombie asked about bending. So far I don't think anyone has
mentioned the "silent vowel" method of learning to bend.

Assuming you can play a single note, draw ~softly~ on hole 4 and/or 6 while
you pretend you are pronouncing an "ooh." Just form your tongue and mouth as
you would if you were actually saying "ooh;" don't use your vocal chords at
all. Incidently, there's no need to draw "hard" and try to force a bend. if
you are bending it properly it can be done very softly. (Your harps and tone
will  thank me later for telling you that.) While you are holding your
"ooh," change your tongue and mouth as you would to form the vowel "eee"
while you continue to draw a steady, soft breath through your harp. (You
might benefit by practicing this without harp, in which case you can use
your voice.) As Iceman said, your tongue will occuply different places
inside your mouth, causing the pitch of the note to change. Repeat the
transition slowly and steadily from "ooh" to "eee" over and over and try to
accentuate the effect as you go. Easy peasy.

Once you can bend holes 4 and 6, move on to 3, 2, and (in that order). Then
get back to us and we'll tell you about blow bends on holes 8, 9, and 10.
After that, we'll tell you about hitting and holding the individual notes
you can coax out of the bendable holes. But for now, to get started, stick
with holes 4 or 6, whichever you find easier. In any case don't even worry
wbout holes 5 and 7. They can only be bent a little and may just frustrate
you for now.

[...You can ignore these next 2 paragraphs if they confuse you ~in the
least~. I write them because they may help you on your quest to understand
what is making that note bend...]

Another thing no one mentioned is that one of the important aspects of what
is causing that bend is that you are changing the volume of your oral
cavity. When you play a wind instrument, from the standpoint of the science
of acoustics, your body becomes part of that instrument. Your oral cavity is
obviously an important part of your air cavity (mouth, throat, airways and
lungs), and it is that air cavity that acts as a resonant chamber just like
the body of a guitar. When you bend a note on a harmonica you are changing
the natural frequency of the sound resonating in your air cavity. BTW, you
can Google "Helmoholz Resonator" if you are interested in learning more
about the acoustics of chambers.

Later on, after you've mastered the "tongue" bend, you will learn how to use
your throat to make even better, deeper bends. It's the same concept, but
first you need to learn how your tongue and mouth can exert huge impact on
your pitch and tone.

[...End of "ignorable" paragraphs...]

Better yet, go out and buy an "A" harp and Gerry Portnoy's 3-cd set of his
"Blues Harp Masterclass." (Google it, too.) It's $60 or so, but in a few
weeks of diligent practice following Gerry's easy to understand instructions
and excellent examples, you will learn how to bend and many, many other
aspects of playing a harmonica. (Not just blues harp, either.) BTW, in case
you don't already know, by way of qualifications, Gerry Portnoy played for 7
years with the Muddy Waters Blues Band and he's currently Eric Clapton's
harper. Got it? Get it.

Good luck and keep us posted.

Michelle

PS: No connection to Gerry Portnoy other than as a very grateful customer
and huge fan.