I enjoy the slower melody tunes, some of which require the dreaded -1. I can play it but it just does not sound as sweet and sharp as the others. I use little pressure but cannot make this note sound good. Its not the harp as this is a problem for all of them and they play well. Any suggestions as to how to defeat this would be appreciated. I am beginning to think its just a difficult note to play. Bends and the high -7 through -10 are no problem, Its just this one not that I would rather not see in the music. I can bend it and it sounds like a ship pulling into a harbor. Very deep.
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I’m just learning, however the bend it better tool may help: Bend It Better™ – The Tool That Helps You Bend Harmonica in Tune!
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Hey @scott4
I too enjoy slower melodies 
I have found that the higher key harps (C,D) — the lower notes are easier to produce consistently good tone and the higher are more difficult.
In contrast the lower key harps (G, A) — the lower notes are harder to produce consistently good tone and the higher notes are easier.
I have also found Bb is a great middle key where I get the most consistent tone across the entire comb
What I do is change the key and/or harp to accommodate.
Examples:
Amazing Grace.
When I play it on holes 6 through 9 in 1st position I play it on a G harmonica - When I play it on holes 1 through 4 in 2nd position I use a C harmonica.
Result different harp key — same song key
House Of The Rising Sun Originally in Am - it plays great in 4th position - on a C harmonica it’s too high and shrill — so I play it on a G harmonica in 4th position (Em) and it sounds great
Result different harp key — different song key
All that said, and knowing it’s actually not a harp key problem, it’s a “me still learning proper technique “ problem, I still practice the lows and highs on all harps because I eventually want to get consistent tone in all keys - but I found a way in the meantime so I can play some songs I like and get the tone I want.
Hope that helps
Best
Mike
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I like tricky -1 draw bend with half-valved customization only on first channel. Here is my example: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CvroeWIwTnU
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Very nice. How do you gap the -1? I play more to the middle and right side of the harp but have two tunes I am learning that require the -1 as a single slower note. I play a B flat, A, G and C. I have the low sound on each have been set up right. I may be drawing a bit hard.
The U Tube post shocked me as I see the fiddle player two or three times a year playing nearby. He is as good as one can get. He plays with J A Martinez and is often the star. I bet J A M $ 50 the band could not play The Devil Lives In Dallas and the Orange Blossom Special in 10 minutes. I lost and knew I would. My son was in with his wife from Peru and she no familiar with these tunes. Small world. I knew I would lose but waned to see him play that fiddle up close. They are great and when the band played both tunes it lite the place up. People from 4 to 90 years of age always dance.
Thanks for the post. I suspect closing the hands may help my effort. You play and help are appreciated.
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I play both of these tunes and try to play Amazing Grace in three different positions on the three go rounds and use a C or G for practice. Ill try H OR S on my G. It is high in C but I cannot remember the song well. It does help timing.
I stumbled across a couple of slow tunes to practice that may help you give what you and I like. One is Moon River and the Other Ain’t No Sunshine. They are not complicated but ant mistake made shoes up and rhythm must be spot on. Try Moon River in C. Its one that is easy on the ears but timing is tough.
I can bend the -1 easily but the -1 gets me. People say the -2/ and // are tougher but there all about the same to me. I’ll stop learning when my ticker quits. I listened to Herb Alpert discuss playing the trumpet as I consider him to be right up at the top. He said he never mastered the instrument and was learning when he quit
let me know what you think of Moon River. I never thought about playing it but gave it a try. One other one that my seem intimidating is El Pasa Condor . It is tough but much easier played as slow as it should be. I just wanted to be able to play one line at first but things started fitting in. One sure thing is there will always be something that needs work no matter how good a player gets. At my level I just don’t spot it if they are very good players.
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