The -3 three step bend

Too any and all that have mastered the three step bend on -3. I can bend this note down three levels BUT it takes takes too much time to get it right. If you need to play the second step do you practice all three steps so you can play and of the steps by muscle memory, which entails lots of practice? The only step I can play quickly is the first and the second and third seem to have very little room for error. My guess is it something you learn but lots of practice. Also if you have to play a -4 bend after a -3 bend do you slide the harp into it?

Any and all recommendations are welcome.

Scott

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Hi Scott @scott4

You hit the nail on its head: the bends on -3 are something you will practice forever – even professionals regularly practice them! The master harpist Filip Jers has produced this video that is required viewing by all serious harpists. Note that he plays a Bb diatonic harp in the video, and the method can be used for any bend, overblow or overdraw note.

I hope this helps. Filip Jers also has other good videos to help you along.

Regards,
– Slim :sunglasses:

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I play a B flat as well. When its warm its a delight to play, even the bends. I on occasion can get all three steps be but when a tune requires an isolated two step it is guess work at this point. Thanks for the video. It is helpful. Cannot say I find one key easier to bend than another but I only have a A,Bb
C and G. Its going to take a while to get comfortable playing a bend and longer to make it help a tune.

Keep Well

Scott

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Very cool @Slim - thanks for sharing this. Of course I do practice my intonation, with a keyboard, but I’ve always only played the exact note - never had the bent note I’m playing on the harmonica be the 5th, or 3rd of a note I’m playing on the keyboard. Very cool!

@scott4 The -3’‘’ isn’t used all that often - not something that you need to spend a ton of time on. Except, maybe as Flip mentions in the video, starting on it to “swoop up” into the -3" bend. Later I guess it becomes useful in 3rd position blues scale - but you’ll get a lot more payoff just focusing on the -3" and -3’ bends. Hope that helps. Let me know if this makes sense?

I use this note A LOT. But I didn’t in the past. What changed is I was given some very good advice:

Play a Shruti box recording of the target note.

Play that note on the harp. Play for a looooong time. Get perfectly in tune.

Move away from that note. Go back. Move away, go back. Just keep doing it. Learn to remember the what you are playing it so you can think about it before you get there.

Then start making melodies where the target note is the root. Do this until you get very open and comfortable playing that target note softly, in tune, and stable.

I need to do this again for the 3 hole half step bend. Years of playing a “blue 3rd” means my actual 3rd is not perfect. And I need to practice using that note in funky keys since it’s intonation will vary slightly depending on what key you are playing.