[Harp-L] 5 overblow tips

[Richard Trafford-Owen]

I have been playing overblows for years, but have been putting up with
subpar skill on hole five. I sometimes get a stutter on the OB before it
kicks in. I don't think I'm the only one as I hear it on performances from
top players once in a while. It can't be the harps as they are done by a
top customizer. I use the OBs on one and six regularly with no problems.
The others I don't use enough to compare.

Any advice for how to do better? Any practice drills that might be better
than mine?

Richard

[Eric Nielsen]

Today's customizers are great, but I always do some minor tweaking of my
own to get a better response from the more troublesome (for me) overbends
like the hole 5 overblow and the overdraws in holes 7-10. If you don't do
this yet, it would be worth learning.

For drills, try playing the Eb minor arpeggio: overblows on holes 4 through
6. Playing *Summertime* in Eb would be a challenging next step.

Eric

[Richard Hunter]

Richard Trafford-Owen wrote:
<I have been playing overblows for years, but have been putting up with
<subpar skill on hole five. I sometimes get a stutter on the OB before it
<kicks in. I don't think I'm the only one as I hear it on performances from
<top players once in a while. It can't be the harps as they are done by a
<top customizer. I use the OBs on one and six regularly with no problems.
<The others I don't use enough to compare.
<
<Any advice for how to do better? Any practice drills that might be better
<than mine?

The first thing I'd suggest is to check the gapping on the reeds. High
gaps make overblowing very difficult. If your customizer set the reeds for
loud playing, i.e. with high gaps, that might be an issue.

As a cheat, consider approaching the overblow from the draw note in the
slot.
Finally, consider whether your chamber (i.e. your mouth) is supporting the
note. Try singing or humming the pitch of the overblown note, then playing
the overblow. If that makes it easier, do the same without actually
sounding the note with your voice.

Regards, RIchard Hunter

Check out Richard Hunter's 21st Century rock harmonica masterpiece "The
Lucky One" at https://www.cdbaby.com/cd/richardhunter

Author, "Jazz Harp" (Oak Publications, NYC)
Latest mp3s and harmonica blog at http://hunterharp.com
Vids at http://www.youtube.com/user/lightninrick
Twitter: @lightninrick­­­‪­‪­­­‪‪­­‪­‪­‪­­­­‪­­‪‪‪­‪‪­­­‪­‪­­­­‪‪­­‪­‪­­­­