Owen Evans
199 posts
Sep 29, 2016
10:34 PM
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This may sound crazy but I can't get the third bend on the three hole of an F harp. I draw the E to the E flat to the D but I cannot find the D flat. It's as if there's an impediment to getting this note for me? I can readily get the bend on the 6 hole for the D flat. I can also get this bend on any of the other keys in my eleven Crossovers plus a Low F Thunderbird. I have tried 3 separate F Crossovers?
Any hints as to what I can do to be able to draw this one elusive note? Thanks fellas, I am exasperated!
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WinslowYerxa
1222 posts
Sep 29, 2016
10:41 PM
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How's you're Db bend on Hole 4 of a C-harp? Playing around with that one might give you some insight.
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Owen Evans
200 posts
Sep 30, 2016
9:04 AM
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@WinslowYerxa - thankyou for the tip Winslow. I was a bit weak there and off by 15-20 cents per my tuner & HarpNinja. I improved that and went to the F harp. Now with the embouchure correction from the C harp, I can actually get the F-harp to get within 50 cents of the Db. Great tip and hopefully on my way to nailing this. I appreciate your help.
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Rgsccr
453 posts
Sep 30, 2016
11:35 AM
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Please forgive me if this question hijacks the thread, but I am curious about the last thing Owen said with regard to using a tuner. Specifically, I occasionally check my bends with a tuner to see I am hitting them with reasonable accuracy and holding them steady. I usually do this in conjunction with an exercise I start my practice with where I hold the draw notes for ten or so counts. Over the past couple of years this has really helped me become more consistent and accurate, and even helped train my ear. My question is, how close and how steady is really good?
For example, if I can bend the three draw (on any key) down a half step, or a whole step, and get it within 10 cents without much wavering while holding the note 5-10 counts, is that good progress? That doesn't mean that I don't want to get better, but I am wondering what a pro would be able to do. Would a really good player generally nail the bend and be able to hold it steady for quite a while, or is being 5 to 10 cents from dead on so close it is hard to discern the difference?
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Owen Evans
201 posts
Sep 30, 2016
8:34 PM
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@Rgsccr - I know that my instructor holds the bends pretty much dead on the money for as long as I listen. He's been playing for about 30 years. Like you I try to hold the bend for as long as I can using Harp Ninja which has a gauge/meter which measures volume/pitch to 5 cents. There is a setting for 10 cents but that isn't the point of the exercise. Accuracy is! I play the note on the piano keyboard and then listen to what I am playing. The difference is noticeable unless I get the note on the money or within 5 cents. Hope this helps.
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Rgsccr
454 posts
Sep 30, 2016
9:10 PM
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Thanks Owen.
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