Hi, I’m new here, started playing harp a few weeks ago and just started B2B yesterday. What I have noticed is a lot of saliva building up as I play. Am I doing something wrong? Do I just have to learn to live with it?
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Following since I’m new too!
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That is fairly normal. If you don’t lean forward it should help a bit. You will gradually not salivate as much the longer you play. Keep the harp tilted up a little bit so your saliva doesn’t run into the harp. Don’t worry it will get better.
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There is a natural tendency for your mouth to produce saliva when there is a foreign object in it. Keep the harmonica slightly tilted upward in your mouth and after sometime of playing daily your mouth becomes accustomed to it and that saliva response slowly but surely slows down. It will always be there to a certain degree, but not nearly as severe as you’re experiencing it now. Just keep at it and you’ll be surprised how much it slows down.
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Hi @michaelalexandermark , I agree with everything that @LoneStar and @pwherda have said. They beat me to it, so no need to repeat it. I’m now taking medication with a side effect that it dries my mouth a little, and I’m starting to have the opposite problem. Better too much saliva than not enough.
When I’m learning a new tune by tabs, I stick the sheet on a door at head height, so that I can stand and practice with my head level, not looking down as I would be if I was holding it or if the sheet was on a desk while I’m sitting.
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that makes sense, ive been practicing while sitting on my bad and the laptop down on the bed, ill try raising the up to head level along with tilting like everyone has suggested. I’m starting to get into single notes soon anyways so I have to tip it.
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Actually it is not required that you tip/tilt the harp in order to play single notes. Some beginners find that position easier to get single notes, but others never do tilt it. Tilting does, however, decrease saliva flow into the harp.
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You’ll still salivate, but most of it should collect in the bottom of your mouth, instead of being blown into the harp. let us know how it goes for you.
Tilt the harmonica up so any saliva will remain in your mouth.
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Module 2 Lesson 7 Luke actually talks about this and says a lot of the same things that are said here. Thanks for the advise guys. It’s all helpful.