@Nancy Hart Have you run across a player, Buddy Greene. I think he is or was from Georgia. I knew him asa gospel player first. He plays with the Bill Gaither organization. He’s got some cool sounds when playing gospet. He also breaks down classical and plays it on his harmonica. He’s good and He’s all over the internet.
No, Bill, I never ran across his music until now. Seems he grew up in Macon. Since Faye mentioned Orange Blossom Special...
That’s him. Of course all these harps you hear on the internet, those who play professionally, use professional harmonicas, new harps that have have been rebuild and jazzed up to play a perfect note with no squeaks or stray sound, so if you’re trying to sound like a professional, it is hard to do. Number one, they’re good and number two, they have outstanding equipment. I like his gospel stuff.
It finally got here. ..As my father would say, "It is a thing of beauty." No excuses now. (Although 2 is not resonating well on a draw. Could that be just because it is new?) The pitch of all the notes is the same as the antique. So the old one never got out of tune after all these years.
@Nancy Hart Wonderful, wonderful! Chances are there is nothing wrong with two hole. Everybody and their dog have trouble with 2. Play it as though it was great. Many Instructors on line speak of number two hole's difficulty. Don't sweat it. For the moment accept my word hole two is difficult. I'm so glad you got it It's a thing of beauty. I''ve heard that expression but I don't remember referring to what, but I like it. You've got enough information. Play the harp at normal conversation, that's break in volume. I'm here if you want to talk about something. So go ahead, get aquatinted with your harp.
Know what I like best. You can take it anywhere. I can even take it out in the woods and scare away the coyotes.
That you can. It makes a wonderful companion. Or it will warm your soul a bit that you can play something someone in your past would like and be delighted you have accomplished that and that is something they would appreciate. And that's a fine picture by a fine artist of years gone by.
Okay boys and girls, hobos and tramps, cross-eyed mesquites, and bow-legged ants, I come before you to stand back in the rear, and tell you, I'm out of here.
Learn to make that bunny in distress sound and the coyotes will be headed your way. Everything is good here. Just taking it day by day.
Sorry about the morning. Now that time has passed I realize the problem was likely false alarm. Way I felt thought earthquake might be coming.
Bill, have you ever tried the tongue-blocking method of playing single notes? This is where you put your mouth over 4 holes, block the 3 to the left with your tongue, and blow through only the 4th hole from the right side of your mouth. The spaces between the holes on this new harmonica are narrower than on the old one, making it harder to hit single notes cleanly. At least for me. All the young men who are demonstrating the lip pursing method on videos have lips like Angelina Jolie. They also all say relax and have fun. I can't do that with lip pursing. Too tensed up, and tiring to do it for a long time. I tried the tongue blocking and could do it fairly easily right at first. What do you think? I don't want to start out a bad way and never be able to unlearn it.
I use int every time I pick up a harmonica. Now I mostly don't lay my tongue across three holes, but one or two holes. Sometime I stick my tongue in the hole behind the hoe I'm blowing and sound a clear note. It's something to practice. Wen you get to playing a bit you'lladjustr towhead seems easier for you and it will sound better. I use tongue on either side of the hole or holesI'm playing, I usually keep my tongue on the rightr side of where I'm paying and keep it thereas I walok up toward the high notes. Some players keep it on the left side. Now i use both side and never thank about it. Sometimes a tongue in the hole or a block on the sides will make the harp sound better. Practice. You'll adapt to what works bst for you but you have to start somewhere. I also blow clear notes by puckering and tongue blocking and never notice what I'm doing except thinking about the tune I'm playing. Practice what you like. Force your self to practice a bit on what you don't like. Every once in a while, try to sloftly blow a simple tune you like or a few bars. Does this answer your question?
Thank you. Sorry my typing is not at its best this morning. I'll trry to do better. Now once in a while, hum a tune into the harmonica, like you were humming around the house, doing the laundry or cleaning house or doing yoiur laundry, or preparing dinner. Press the harmonica against your mouth and hum into it. Move the harmonica where it should be on do ra mi as you hum. Go back and try it a gain. Keep your mouth open a little, breath normally through your nose and hume (how do you spell that word anyway). Hum moving the harmonica back and forth. A big bluejay is perched atop my backyard bird feeder. No seeds been in that feeder all this year. He remembers. As soon as I get someone to fill my feeders I will attrack many birds and I will softly play my harmonica for them. Some of them answer me. I can't tell if they are saying, 'way to go' or 'shut up'.