I am 51 years old and have owned harmonicas for about 15 or so years. Except for the last 2 months they sat for about 10 years. Long and short, without repeating a
previous post, Just 2 days ago I finally learned to actually make
true bends.
I was just about to write a serious letter to Adam Gussow and try to 2nd guess his assertion that it when it is done proplerly, there is no changing the lips.
I am in a rooming house. I am only saying this to demonstrate there is no deed to wail or torture yourself to get it right. Remember This is something I just now figured out where my mistake had been and what I am now doing right.
What I have been doing for years is what I would now describe a warping the note with the waaa waa or yaa yaa weeyaaa and such.
ALL of these thing ar actually worthwhile artifacts to use at the right times even though they are not proper bends.
The video that finally did it for me like dropping the penny into the arcade machine just right was from
Jon Gindick
What works for me on the 3 hole to get all three is all in the mere difference of saying tee, kah, koo, kuh. My lips do not change in the least. I am not trying to say moving your jaw would be wrong because everyone is going to get it done a bit different. I can say that I am not only able to not change my lips but not change anything noticable except you can see between my chin and dam's apple there is a change.
The point I was making earlier about being in a rooming house is that I learned after 10 PM. The change is very slight but once you notice it pick up on what you did.
I think my slight variation with Jon's video should help.
Tipping it back helps me too
You should be able to play
Mary Had a Little Lamb while only drawing on the 3 hole. There are 4 solid tones that you do not whine your way to. you click your way to them
Tee Kee Kah Koh seems to work for me on the 3rd hole C Hohner blues band
Nothing wrong with using tee th toh or dee dah doh - in fact you might be able to take advantage of those differences after getting the bend
This can be done without bothering people in the next room.
Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 08/12/2015 10:51PM by JerryVan.