You guys! I figured it out! Sit back and relax, especially if you are one of them lip-purser types and still trying to figure things out.
For the last couple of weeks I’ve been practicing the SwallowTail Jig as my first attempt at playing something more complex than happy birthday with clean notes. For most of it, I’ve been struggling and I’d have to re-start playing many times and I’d need to put a lot of effort into pushing air, so much so that after the end of most practice sessions I’d have a sweaty back and need to change my shirt.
To make this video, I’ve had to make countless takes and had many “failed” attempts where a note just wouldn’t work or sound bad. I thought it was “my harmonica” or my lungs were crap or something:
Then, I finally “got” the key and now it’s way more effortless. Y’see, most youtube videos constantly talk about pointing the harmonica upwards. From what I understand, I’m a lip purser and that advice might be for tongue blocking, since I realised when I did the EXACT OPPOSITE everything now clicked,
I initially assumed when recording the second video that it would sound 2X better. When comparing, there isn’t THAT much difference to the casual listener, but it’s in the consistency and ease - I’m now able to ENJOY playing and it’s way easier to play, like I’m now longer struggling against an invisible wall or something.
After this change, all the “advice” about “not pushing air too hard” finally began to make sense. I found that if I pretend as though my face is numb/tired/lazy this helps relax the muscles, and to overall play the harmonica as if I’m “tired”. Here tired doesn’t mean “out of breath”, just the regular “tired”. Hope this helps someone!
note: for the very last part with the high notes, I’m switching to puckering which still takes effort and this doesn’t apply
