Re: [Harp-L] RE: MIC HOLDING

[Winslow Yerxa <winslowyerxa@xxxxxxxxx>]

OK, so the blues grip is driven first by sealing the harp and mic off from the surrounding air, and an important part of that is the need to seal high register holes against the cheek. And if you hold the harp right side up, then it's the right cheek, and holding the harp and mic in the left hand achieves this without interfering with the harp-to-cheek seal.

So someone who might not have formed a hand preference might use left had for both the tight, tone-driven blues grip and a looser, less seal-driven sound. Or use the right hand to keep the two approaches clearly separated.

Winslow

Winslow Yerxa

Author, Harmonica For Dummies ISBN 978-0-470-33729-5

--- On Mon, 5/18/09, icemanle@xxxxxxx <icemanle@xxxxxxx> wrote:

From: icemanle@xxxxxxx <icemanle@xxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: [Harp-L] RE: MIC HOLDING
To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
Date: Monday, May 18, 2009, 2:52 PM

Tight cup, harmonica against cheek =  blues style/tone
Regular grip, relaxed and open = musical linear style - note tone driven



When I learned from Joe Filisko the optimum mic grip, (including upper register pressed against cheek), it necessitated left hand holding harmonica. Up till this point, I always used a loose right handed grip.

-----Original Message-----
From: Winslow Yerxa <winslowyerxa@xxxxxxxxx>
To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx; icemanle@xxxxxxx
Sent: Mon, 18 May 2009 4:00 pm
Subject: Re: [Harp-L] RE: MIC HOLDING











OK, so the question goes begging - why different holding hands for different mic techniques?

Winslow Yerxa

Author, Harmonica For Dummies ISBN 978-0-470-33729-5

--- On Mon, 5/18/09, icemanle@xxxxxxx <icemanle@xxxxxxx> wrote:


From: icemanle@xxxxxxx <icemanle@xxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: [Harp-L] RE: MIC HOLDING
To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
Date: Monday, May 18, 2009, 12:46 PM


My solution was to learn two mic holding techniques - one for tight cupping blues style and the other for all the rest. Cupping I hold the harmonica in my left hand, the rest I hold it in my right hand. Took me a while to learn them both, but it comes in handy.


-----Original Message-----
From: Bill Kumpe <bkumpe@xxxxxxx>
To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
Sent:
 Mon, 18 May 2009 11:17 am
Subject: [Harp-L] RE: MIC HOLDING








RE: Mic Holding

I have the same problem.  It is always a trade off. On the one hand, I can
get a much fatter tone by cupping the mic close, etc.  But, on the other
h
and, I am clumsy holding the mic and worry about dropping the thing. When I
play at our monthly jam, I use the PA mic which is on a stand and cup around
it.  I don't get nearly as good a tone as I would with my JT-30 but I also
don't have to worry about dropping the mic, etc. either.  I suspect that as
I get more poise handling things, I will be able to use whatever mic I want.
But, I hear guys sounding awful good just walking up to that cheap PA mic
and cupping it in their hands on the stand.  Granted, they could probably
sound good playing through a tin can and string but they prove it's not an
insurmountable handicap to be playing
 this way.

Bill Kumpe
Tulsa, OK

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