Hey Harp Friends, Have been doing some of Luke and JP’s lessons using a C Harmonica exclusively. Suddenly now trying to play with an A, and it’s like learning all over again. Mainly the usual suspects, -2 and -3. I actually have to bend the -2 to get any sound other than air. Have to fight that temptation to think their’s something wrong with the harmonica. Any tips on breaking away from the comfort zone of the C harmonica and getting good sound from the other keys? Practice, practice, practice???
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Hi @bjdas, I went against all good advice and started with G, then D, C and F.
I’ve not had any trouble moving from one to another, even switching back and forth when I practice. Is your C harmonica the same model as your new A harmonica?
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Hi @bjdas
It sounds to me as if your A harp needs some adjustment of the reed gap for -2. There really should be no difference in what you do to play -2 on these two harps.
Other possibilities are that you are playing to forcefully or that you are unconsciously using a different embouchure when moving from one harp to the other.
Regards,
– Slim 
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Hi PapaCurly–Yes, they are both Special 20.
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So have you checked the reed gaps for the draw 2 on both harps?? If, as you say, you need to bend draw 2 in order to even get a sound from draw 2 on the A harp then the gap there is most likely too large.
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Don’t even know how to do that. I’m really a rookie here. I suppose I need to watch some Youtube videos on taking a harp apart and adjusting it. I was mainly blaming it on my technique because I tried a couple other A and G harmonicas and got the same result. Granted, they were cheap harmonicas (Fender A and G) but I had the same problem with the cheap harmonicas that I did with the Special 20 A and G. At this point, both the 2 and -2 are a problem for me on the 2 lowest key harmonicas. Would love if you have any favorite Youtube Videos on how to open, check, and adjust harps and what tools to buy. But since there is some consistency of my problems on all A and G harps, I tend to think this is my technique. There’s something about the lower harps. Thank you again!
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@bjdas, I’m a rookie also and I don’t have an A harmonica, but I just went through my collection F, D, C, G, to try to offer some help. Playing -2 and +2 on each. Although I don’t have the problems that you are describing, I do find those notes progressively more difficult from highest to lowest key i.e. -2 and +2 on the low keys are definitely less responsive (for me). I reckon, don’t be too quick to pull the harmonicas apart, my best guess is that Slim might be right about you unconsciously using a different embouchure. As I said earlier, my first harmonica was G, so that’s probably why I didn’t find any difficulty with my next harmonicas as you have.
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Hi @bjdas I’m thinking about taking JP’s blues course next. It sounds like it uses an A harmonica, is that correct? Does it use any others besides C?
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They play the same, A will be lower in pitch, unless specialty harp. It goes like this, G usually lowest pitch harp, to highest F. So pitch is lowest, G, A, B, C, D, E, F, highest. They do make low tones, F#, F and E, I have an F and an E, Rocket by Hohner, resin comb. The lower pitch than C does take some feel the reed, be the reed.
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Yes, I agree with you. I tried 7 different keys and only had trouble with the 2 and -2 on the G and A harmonicas. So, I probably just need to practice on those lower keys. Thanks again!
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JP uses a C harmonica almost throughout the entire course. Then in the very last module, there is suddenly, without warning, one song using an A harmonica. So, you can do almost the entire course using a C harmonica.
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Thanks, that’s helpful to know!
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@healthybodyhappymind Welcome to the forum bro! So glad you could join us.
Glad @bjdas got you yer answer. And key of A is a great harmonica to buy after key of C, btw.
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Forgot to mention, in addition to the A Harmonica, JP also uses a D Harmonica for the very last song. But if you are taking Breakthrough Blues, you can use your C Harmonica, and you will have lots of time to purchase an A and D Harp before you get to the very end – when he does just one song using the A, and one song using the D.
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Did some experimentation with 7 harmonica keys. And the result is: For the G and A harmonicas, I need to do an exaggerated jaw drop to get a clear tone from the 2 blow and 2 draw. With all the others, I don’t need to do that. Problem solved I suppose. The harmonicas are likely fine–it was just me. It’s definitely more difficult with the cheaper harmonicas as well. But the Special 20’s respond well to that big jaw drop.
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