@Luke @davidkachalon sorry, I was away for quite some time in the countryside (woodshedding a lot in the mountains…) and just catching up. Thank you both again for the additional clarification, the tips and the cheering. This is very much appreciated.
@davidkachalon so I have been stuck doing the exercise with a metronome since last time I wrote (a year ago) feeling I am making no progress. Basically it feels that at 90bpm after a short while, or going at 100bpm, the 2 exhales sound like a single one. I am not able to make them distinctive enough.
So recently, I switched how I practice this based on an idea from a friend of mine in Japan (accessorily the best harmonica player I know). The idea is to basically be able to hold the tempo correctly for 3 minutes before moving on. So the practice currently looks like this:
- hold the train rhythm for 3 minutes at 70bpm
- take a break (because it is hard), then try to hold it as much as I can at 80 bpm
- then try to hold it as much as I can at 90bpm
Then as I perfect my train at 70bpm, my idea is to decrease time spent at 70bpm and increase time at 80bpm.
And honestly, after few weeks, even though I mainly practice at 70 bpm, I already hear noticeable difference even when I switch to 90 bpm. So I thought I would share the tip.
Fabulous to hear this! Yes keep doing exactly what you are doing. The phasing takes time but control will cone! Try to go from full nose to full mouth breathing very gradually. Love that it’s working for ya! Yay !
@Mugen - yeah man! A couple things here. The longer the better! I’ll play the train walking for 10, 20, even 30 minutes without stopping!
When I was feeling stuck, sometimes I’d put the metronome, faster, even WAY faster and just forget about the throat pulses, and just try to breathe in and out SUPER RELAXED right in time with the click (I figured, if I can’t do THAT, no WAY I’ll be able to do the train, lol!!)
Keep up the great work. my friend. Rock on! ![]()
@Luke I’d like to see the face of people who pass by you walking while doing the train. ![]()
30 minutes is very impressive! Even 10! After 3 minutes I feel exhausted.