Breaking in a #2 draw on a harmonica

Subject: Breaking in a #2 draw on a harmonica
From: Johnhenry'shammer
Date: 22 Jun 06 - 03:45 AM

I have three harps that I've been playing for a while now (Hohner Big River Harps) and they give me a great sound. I have a C, a D, and an A. The only problem I have with them is that for some reason the number 2 draw sounds like shit! It's too airy and produces a weird tone. I was wondering if this is a problem on all harps of this particular model or all harps generally. Either way, how do I break them in so that they sound like the rest of the harp?

Thanks,
John

Subject: RE: Breaking in a #2 draw on a harmonica
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 22 Jun 06 - 05:09 AM

Sound like you may have a duff reed, if it's a plastic comb model run lukewarm water throught it from both directions in case it is just a bit of fluff or something lodged in the reed. If a wooden one, take it to you local garage and do the same with the airline.
Giok

Subject: RE: Breaking in a #2 draw on a harmonica
From: GUEST,thurg
Date: 22 Jun 06 - 10:21 AM

Seems to me this is not an unusual drawback(!) of the Big Rivers, and a bit of a weakness in harps generally. However, it is a hit-and-miss thing; the Big Rivers vary in quality in that regard.

With enough playing, the problem usually goes away. But you might want to consider "moving up" to Marine Band or Special Twenty.

Subject: RE: Breaking in a #2 draw on a harmonica
From: GUEST,Jim
Date: 22 Jun 06 - 10:22 AM

My current C harp is a Big River and I've had no problems with it. My partner sings a lot of blues in G, so this harp gets a lot of use. My other keys are Special 20s and Lee Oscars, a lot more expensive, but not much better, if any. I think the Big Rivers are a great deal.

Subject: RE: Breaking in a #2 draw on a harmonica
From: Johnhenry'shammer
Date: 22 Jun 06 - 12:45 PM

I found out that it wasn't the harps but mor my playing style. I tried putting the harp as far as I could into my mouth while still being able to hit single notes and the 2 hole draw was fine.

Subject: RE: Breaking in a #2 draw on a harmonica
From: GUEST,Jim
Date: 22 Jun 06 - 01:34 PM

Here's a tip for Canadian harp players. I was at Canadian Tire, a well-known hardware chain in Canada, and saw a plastic "parts organizer" called a JOBMATE. It was 8.25 x 4.5 x 1.25 inches with a Red & White label and had adjustable dividers. It looked as if it would fit some 10 hole diatonic harps, so I spent the $4 and took it home. The 6 horizontal boxes fit a 10 hole harp perfectly. I have only 6 harps that I use regularly and this box fits nicely in a guitar case under the tuning head. This is a lot more convenient than having six plastic boxes. I've labeled the compartments on the inside of the lid in marker so that I can see the keys even in low stage lighting.

   Here's a question for all harp players: What is the difference between a Special 20 regular tuning and "Country Tuning"?

Subject: RE: Breaking in a #2 draw on a harmonica
From: Peace
Date: 22 Jun 06 - 01:46 PM

Special 20's
A smooth "comfortable" feeling harmonica with genuine brass plates recessed in a plastic body. The Special 20 is an exceptionally warm-sounding airtight instrument with bolted on covers that comes in a hinged plastic case.


Special 20's Country Tuned
Country tuning adds a note to the bottom register which is not normally found on the pentatonic scale. This makes it easier to obtain the seventh note in the first octave by bending the added note. Ideal for the country player who needs the extra note without the bottom sounding blues tone.

Subject: RE: Breaking in a #2 draw on a harmonica
From: Peace
Date: 22 Jun 06 - 01:50 PM

That's from the www.

Subject: RE: Breaking in a #2 draw on a harmonica
From: GUEST,Jim
Date: 22 Jun 06 - 02:10 PM

Thanks Peace!

Subject: RE: Breaking in a #2 draw on a harmonica
From: Peace
Date: 22 Jun 06 - 04:29 PM

Most welcome, Jim.

Closest I ever got to playing harp was some Marine Bands and a Guthrie/Dylan type holder. I would like to ask the harp players here what the differece is between playing straight harp and playing cross harp. Would someone explain, please?

Subject: RE: Breaking in a #2 draw on a harmonica
From: Johnhenry'shammer
Date: 22 Jun 06 - 11:04 PM

I'd be interested in knowing that too. I've always just played without putting much thought into the theory of it or any of the special names for different styles.

Subject: RE: Breaking in a #2 draw on a harmonica
From: number 6
Date: 22 Jun 06 - 11:45 PM

Waiting here for an answer to Peaces question ... "what the differece is between playing straight harp and playing cross harp."

I'd like to know myself ... so, what is the difference?

sIx

Subject: RE: Breaking in a #2 draw on a harmonica
From: GUEST,thurg
Date: 23 Jun 06 - 12:13 AM

Okay, I'll try again - I gave a magnificent explanation earlier and then - you'll never guess what - my computer crashed as I was trying to send the message ...

The term "straight harp" - known now among aficionados as "first position" - indicates that the harmonica is being played in the key for which it was designed; e.g., a C harp is playing a melody in the key of C. The term "cross harp" indicates that the harmonica is being played in the key two-and-a-half tones down from the key the harmonica is designed for; e.g., a C harp playing a melody (or more often an improvisation) in the key of G. If you think of the I-IV-V pattern, the cross-harp is in the key of IV.

There are other positions used by advanced players, which presumably is the reason why the folksy terms "straight", "cross" and "slant" (third position) are being pushed aside in favour of the more clinical, numerical designations.

Cross harp is the usual position used in blues and blues-influenced music.

Subject: RE: Breaking in a #2 draw on a harmonica
From: Peace
Date: 23 Jun 06 - 12:15 AM

THANK YOU!

Subject: RE: Breaking in a #2 draw on a harmonica
From: Johnhenry'shammer
Date: 23 Jun 06 - 01:33 AM

But how can you play a harmonica in a different key?

Subject: RE: Breaking in a #2 draw on a harmonica
From: Peace
Date: 23 Jun 06 - 01:49 AM

It has to do not specifically with the Key of the harp, but with the notes the harp plays when you blow or suck. You'll need a harp player to tell you about this. I can explain the theory, but since I know so little about harp, I don't even know what notes specific harmonicas play.

Subject: RE: Breaking in a #2 draw on a harmonica
From: Splott Man
Date: 23 Jun 06 - 03:52 AM

You can get some atmospheric results if you play a harp in a totally different key. You may not have anywhere near a complete scale, and some notes will jar, but a little experimentation will reveal which notes and runs will fit (as long as you stick to them and not try to improvise until you're really confident).

Subject: RE: Breaking in a #2 draw on a harmonica
From: GUEST,Jim
Date: 23 Jun 06 - 10:43 AM

In order to play blues, it's good to be able to bend certain notes. This is much easier to do on a draw note. It's possible to bend a blow note, but much harder. Playing cross harp gives you the draw on the good bending notes. It also gives you a bluesier sounding scale. This is a different mode. I'm not knowledgable enough to know the names of the modes, but I'm sure someone here is.

I recently tried playing HURTLING DOWN THE PINES in Am. I tried an A harp and a C harp with no luck. I went through all my harps and was successful when I tried the G harp. What do you harp players do for minor keys? Has anyone tried the Lee Oscar minor harps? Which are most useful, melodic or harmonic?

Subject: RE: Breaking in a #2 draw on a harmonica
From: Splott Man
Date: 23 Jun 06 - 11:00 AM

Am modal would be the 3rd position on a G harp. This is the same scale as G so as long as the tune played is in that mode, Bob's yer uncle. e.g. the Welsh tune Hen Ty Coch (The Old Red House).

I've got a Lee Oskar in Dm melodic and it makes everything sound vaguely Klezmer. It's great for getting minor versions of major tunes like Princess Royal though. It's also good for Summertime in the 2nd position apart from a couple of notes that require drastic bending.

Suzuki do a harp with valves which make bending easier in both directions, but there's a tendency to overblow them and get silence! But these harps have a beautiful full sound at the bottom end.

Subject: RE: Breaking in a #2 draw on a harmonica
From: BanjoRay
Date: 24 Jun 06 - 09:00 AM

The cross harp is NOT in the key of IV - it's in the key of V, the base note of which is the second suck note

Harp key A gives cross harp Key E
Harp key D gives cross harp key A
Harp key C gives cross harp Key G
Harp key G gives cross harp key D
etc

Ray (who used to play a lot of blues harp)

Subject: RE: Breaking in a #2 draw on a harmonica
From: GUEST,thurg
Date: 24 Jun 06 - 12:53 PM

You're just saying the same thing in a different way - you're looking at the key of the harp as "I"; I'm looking at the key of the piece of music as I, which makes more sense to me (although your "vision" seems to be the more common one). So if the piece of music is in the key of E (I), you will use a harp in the key of A (IV), to play cross-harp.

Yes, you can stand that on its head and say if the harp is in the key of A (I), then you can play cross in the key of E (V). I don't see how that's any more helpful though. In fact, it strikes me as unnecessarily complicated; for instance, if someone on the bandstand tells you that the next song is in Bb, so that Bb is the I chord, then you have to think of Bb as the V chord in order to count down and deduce what harp to use, but then think of Bb as the I chord again when you're figuring out the chord changes as you play ... Of course, once you've done this enough times, you know automatically which harp to use, but, as I say, it seems unnecessarily complicated for neophytes.

- thurg (who has never played harp and knows nothing about it)

Subject: RE: Breaking in a #2 draw on a harmonica
From: BanjoRay
Date: 24 Jun 06 - 08:14 PM

OK - got it.
Ray

Subject: RE: Breaking in a #2 draw on a harmonica
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 24 Jun 06 - 09:13 PM

In both love and harmonica

SPIT

Makes a good lubricant.

Sincerely,
Gargoyle

About, the only sex-ed pappy ever gave.

Subject: RE: Breaking in a #2 draw on a harmonica
From: Slag
Date: 01 Jul 06 - 01:32 AM

Love my Lee Oskars Am harp. I also have Marine Bands in all the Maj keys (back when they were $2.25 each!!). Sometimes you just get a clinker. Some notes Stick. Some just don't sound right. I've taken them apart and cleaned them with different cleaners ( be sure and RINSE THUROUGHLY). Lemon juice makes a good cleaner for the brass reeds. You can very carefully try repositioning the reed with a stylus. With some good magnification check how the OK reeds lie and then do what it takes to reposition the odd sounder. You can keep tweaking it until your happy with it or decide to chuck it. Rather than put it all back together each time get some little clamps to hold it while you test it. You can also change the size and or shape of the hole with an exacto knife and get a little variation. Enlarging and rounding out the hole gives it a little bluesier sound, in my opinion.

I've had a couple of chromatics but , gee, you gotta like "know music" to play those things in something other than "C". They have never sounded right to me, except on Polka night. The Echo harps are neat for a featured tune but they can grate on your nerves after a while. Harmonicas be lots of fun anyway. Oh! If the covers get loose or the brads don't hold very well just get some very small stove bolts, nuts and washers and drill holes all the way through and bolt it back together and it is better than original. Good luck!