Hi guys,
How do you approach -3 whole step bend when song (melody) requires it? Even though I have improved a lot on that bend and can sustain on that note it still sound bit different. Mainly when I play in a first position or 4th position and that note is only bend. Will it improve over time or it will always stand out from other notes? Or maybe is there possibility to change position where that bend is not required or does not stand out thanks to other bends?
Thanks,
Adam
Even when really good players (i.e. professionals) play it, I too find that it sounds “different”; but that is part of its “charm” – at least when you have a good, well-adjusted harp and excellent technique! And that is also part of why people seem to never stop needing to practice playing it well.
Patience and practice are your friends … or at least they should be.
– Slim 
@Adam1 - I had to chuckle when I read your post. First of all CONGRATS on working on the -3" bend! There’s much to be gained and nothing to be lost from that work.
It WILL improve over time!! I also WILL probably always stand out from other notes, but eventually it hopefully sticks out in a GOOD way instead of a BADD way!!! 
Eventually, you begin to look forward to it, instead of dreading it - Amazing Grace, When the Saints Go Marching In, Georgia, Over the Rainbow, and Hallelujah are all fun songs to play in 2nd position that put this demand on us. Here it is in Hallelujah:
You can change positions (sometimes) to avoid it, OR use a different tuning altogether (Like the Melody Maker which gives us that note in 3 blow) but again, if you stick with it, you can eventually make it your friend!
Hope that helps!
I would like to avoid different tunings before getting good in at least one… and it also make me practice those missing notes. Although I am hesitating about trochilus in pop/solo tuning I would like to stay with diatonic asi long as it’s possible. 
But it’s really hard with some melodies
Hi @Adam1 I wouldn’t worry about it sounding different everyone sounds different I learned that draw from listening to Big Walter Horton recordings I can do it, but I don’t sound anything like Big.
Everyone has nuances, and Physical features that may make them sound different. A lot of the old blues players didn’t have all that many teeth that would immediately have an effect on the sound ( I actually asked my dentist about that out of curiosity.) Another thing is some of those guys had huge hands, I don’t know if you’ve seen footage of Sonny Boy Williamson II? But he had hands like shovels a twelve hole harp in his hands almost disappears, his wahs were amazing. So I’d just concentrate on getting the techniques right, chances are as much as it sucks none of us are ever going to sound like our heros all we can do is come close.
I find the spot that creates the second step using a tuner. Once you hit it practice the exaction your tongue is. I am no pro but this works for me. The third step s just too low for me to make the note sound good. Others may offer better advise but keeping the harp in your mouth and practice are hard to beat. I have a C A 2 tuner and it tells me when I go from one step to another and the only way I can get a second step is situating the K spot back from the first and not passing through it playing too fast.
Luke
SPSH is going to be in San Antonio next year. I am very new but would like to attend as its about an hours drive for me.
Is the gathering primarily designed for the better players? Would you recommend a player with 1 1/2 years of playing go?
I know good players prefer to play with other good players and well understand it. That being said if there are work shops and people to tell me what I need to correct, practice, etc it would be time well spent. I do not want to grove any faults and find out where I stand given the amount of time I have been playing and more importantly what I should focus on to get to the next level asap.
Scott
Can’t recommend it highly enough bro. Hope to see you there! I predict you’ll be VERY GLAD you went! Did you see my vid on 2024 SPAH? I interviewed a couple beginners at the end:
Luke
I will find you in S A. I don’t plan to play much except in workshops as I only know about 9 to 10 tunes. My primary objective is to find out if I am grooving any faults and get suggestions on how best to get to the next level. If you are there and free for a lunch I’ll by and we can swing by the Alamo. Its worth the time and has recently been renovated. Its really a cool place and I know where to get some great barbecue. Even the cold slaw is good and the cobbler fantastic.
c
Thanks and will see you there.
Scott
The more you bend, the faster you can hit them, keep with it, you’ll get it!
Now that I can activate bends is easy but playing them correctly is going to take a while, along while and lots of practice… My practice of bending is trying to play small licks bends only. It dos help and when I pick up a harp I start bending licks with some organization to them, It has really helped.