Harmonica Note Bending
Discussion
I've taken the plunge and bought a Hohner Marine Band harmonica in the hope that I can learn to sound a tiny bit like Mick Jagger on a load of Rolling Stones tracks. However, after trying for a short time, actually bending a note on the harmonica seems quite hard to do.
If there are any harmonica players in these parts, can you reveal how long it took you to be able to bend a note and how you came about doing it?
Many thanks.
If there are any harmonica players in these parts, can you reveal how long it took you to be able to bend a note and how you came about doing it?
Many thanks.
I'm not an harmonica player,but I bought a Hohner 'Blues Harp' as just something to have a go at.
Sounded awful at first but suddenly got the hang of bending notes,with just a bit of practice.
Look on you-tube for plenty of tutorials which are very good and explain how to bend notes.
Haven't touched the thing for about a year now as lost interest after I had achieved my ambition.
Sounded awful at first but suddenly got the hang of bending notes,with just a bit of practice.
Look on you-tube for plenty of tutorials which are very good and explain how to bend notes.
Haven't touched the thing for about a year now as lost interest after I had achieved my ambition.
I did try a few years before with some other (cheapo) Mississippi saxophone that I had bought, but never managed to achieve 'the bent note'.
But with this one seemed so much easier to achieve it, must admit i was surprised , and elated!!
It just suddenly appeared after about an hour trying it.
I think with a 'Marine Band' you must have the best there is though.
Think I read somewhere or perhaps on you-tube that it is better to bend a note on a suck rather than a blow and that is what I found.
Sort of trying/saying to make the noise with your tongue while you suck the note. ( iyswim.)
I did find that if I didn't keep at it then i seemed to be unable to achieve it again without some more practice.
Hope some more blues harpists come on here and tell us more, finding that you have rekindled an interest for me now.
But with this one seemed so much easier to achieve it, must admit i was surprised , and elated!!
It just suddenly appeared after about an hour trying it.
I think with a 'Marine Band' you must have the best there is though.
Think I read somewhere or perhaps on you-tube that it is better to bend a note on a suck rather than a blow and that is what I found.
Sort of trying/saying to make the noise with your tongue while you suck the note. ( iyswim.)
I did find that if I didn't keep at it then i seemed to be unable to achieve it again without some more practice.
Hope some more blues harpists come on here and tell us more, finding that you have rekindled an interest for me now.
try to indent your tongue downwards whilst mid-note. The pitch bend is caused by increasing the volume of resonating air in your mouth. Larger volume = lower pitch, like drums.
When you get the movement right, it'll change the pitch of your hum, so you can experiment without the harmonica.
You can also try pushing your jaw forwards to increase the space behind it.
When you get the movement right, it'll change the pitch of your hum, so you can experiment without the harmonica.
You can also try pushing your jaw forwards to increase the space behind it.
Gassing Station | Music | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff