Hey all. So I feel that I’m probably somewhere between a level 1 and a level 2 player . I’ve done Luke’s great course and I’m a couple of modules into the blues course.
I’m having trouble with two things (that may be one thing actually).
-1 draw on the C harp is difficult. I feel that either I over draw it, so it’s very flat, or I am full of air almost immediately. I think I’m breathing through my nose when i draw it.
Interestingly, if i hold my nose when playing it, it instantly sounds louder, more in tune and isn’t a problem. However, I can’t find a way to practice getting rid of this problem.
Can anyone suggest a practice technique to get around this?
What tune are you attempting as you can release the air quickly as yo go to the next note, you can also breath out through your nose as you drawing, it’s a bit awkward but it can be done, also when playing you can snatch inhales and exhales at the side of the mouth. Breathing whilst playing is pretty challenging to begin with but the more you play your body will figure it out. The human body is adverse to turning blue passing out and striking it’s central computer on the ground. It just takes a hell of a lot of practice that’s all. Remember also that for every technique there’s and opposite technique after all if we breathe in we must breath out?
Thanks Andy. I’m not learning a tune for this currently - just practicing some of JP’s blues lessons. But i’m noticing every single time i play 1 DRAW I’m noticing a couple of things:
I’m full of air SUPER quickly.
It’s flat - not in tune
It doesn’t have much power
If i pinch my nose it sounds instantly better.
I’m pretty sure that I’m breathing in through my nose when i play 1 draw and I can’t figure out how to stop myself doing it! It’s not that I’m struggling for breath… it’s just that is how I’m naturally doing it. It affects the sound, the tuning and the power of the note. I just need to figure out if there’s some method or exercise to stop me doing this!
Practice with nose plugs until you can simulate the restriction of airflow sensation without them being on. Should have no change of volume when nose is closed. Practice feeling like you are sick. A stuffed up nose so to speak.
That’s actually a brilliant idea, because I’ve got one lung I had to learn the hard way, that’s the beauty of this forum right there in a nutshell. If you a beginner it knocks months or even years off your learning. I wish I’d access to little nuggets like this when I began to play, would have saved me loads of problems.