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Subject: "Mouth Position" Archived thread - Read only
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Slag
Member since Mar-10-06
3 posts		 Mar-10-06, 11:27 AM (PST)
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"Mouth Position"
 
   Hello all, I'm a brand new member with a few questions about how to hold your mouth while playing. I find that when I try to play single notes-it's as if my mouth doesn't have enough "muscle" to hold that "pucker" position (yikes). Inevitably, I start playing two or three notes because I can't hold my mouth tight enough. Should the mouth be totally relaxed?? When I totally relax my mouth, I end up playing three or four notes. Do I just need to develope those muscles?? Thanks folks. Looking forward to being a part of this community!!! Slag


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webmasteradmin
Member since Jan-20-03
1605 posts		 Mar-10-06, 01:54 PM (PST)
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1. "RE: Mouth Position"
In response to message #0
 
Slag,

Virtually everyone has this problem in the beginning.

You are literally using the muscles in and around your mouth, and for most people, they have not been used much in the past. So, on average, it takes about 3-4 weeks of working on single notes, but not over-doing it, to get these muscles in shape.

There are many posts on this subject in this Forum. Take a look through past posts and see what you can hunt down. Here's one to get you started-
http://www.harmonicalessons.com/members/dcforum/DCForumID1/254.html

Welcome to the site and the Forums,
Dave Gage


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Slag
Member since Mar-10-06
3 posts		 Mar-13-06, 04:58 PM (PST)
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2. "RE: Mouth Position"
In response to message #1
 
   I read the section on mouth positions. No matter how hard I try, I just can't seem to make the hole in my mouth small enough. However, when I push in with my fingers and push the harmonica further in my mouth, I am able to acheieve a good single note. Is it possible through practice to hold that mouth position (without using the fingers??)????
Also, when I try to play Mary Had a Little Lamb, I find myself searching for the notes with my tongue, and also tonging the notes, as if playing a trumpet. Is this bad??

Thanks for the reply. SLAG


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webmasteradmin
Member since Jan-20-03
1605 posts		 Mar-15-06, 01:20 PM (PST)
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3. "RE: Mouth Position"
In response to message #2
 
SLAG: "However, when I push in with my fingers and push the harmonica further in my mouth, I am able to acheieve a good single note. Is it possible through practice to hold that mouth position (without using the fingers??)????
DG: Yes, it is very possible with a few weeks of practice. Please re-read this post-
http://www.harmonicalessons.com/members/dcforum/DCForumID1/254.html#1
and note that what actually creates the single notes is not your lips, but rather the corners of your mouth. Once you open your mouth, drop your jam down and slightly back, the pressure of pushing the harmonica into the corners of your lips will maintain the single note so you don't have to keep squeezing in the corners with your fingers.

SLAG: "Also, when I try to play Mary Had a Little Lamb, I find myself searching for the notes with my tongue, and also tonging the notes, as if playing a trumpet. Is this bad??"
DG: Yes. Keep in mind that something is better than nothing, but the less bad habits you get into now, the less problems you have to deal with down the line. Avoid the "U-Blocking" style of single notes-
http://www.harmonicalessons.com/members/sinnotes.php
and read about when you should and shouldn't be using "tonguing" (a la a trumpet player)-
http://www.harmonicalessons.com/members/tonguing.php

Play on,
Dave Gage


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Slag
Member since Mar-10-06
3 posts		 Mar-18-06, 06:47 PM (PST)
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4. "RE: Mouth Position"
In response to message #3
 
   Hello again, Dave-
I've been playing for about a week now, and I think I've actually improved a lot over the past seven days. I'm getting much better at single notes, and I can play Oh Susanna, Mary Had a Little Lamb, and the major scale by heart. Also, my lips no longer fall to the ground and drag after I play for two minutes. I think I've strengthened those mouth muscles up a bit- however, my girlfriend now says that I kiss funny. She's also caught me making the "harmonica mouth" in the mirror. She thinks I'm a big wierdo. Go figure.
My plan for next week is to continue working on the single notes, breathing, clean up the songs and scale, and start learning a new song-maybe Home on the Range. Thanks for all your advice, Dave, it's helping me out alot!!
I've noticed that when playing the higher notes, I start to tighten my lips up- I think it's from when I played the trumpet back in middle school-kind of like a non-voluntary response. I've been trying to really pay attention to that-it's messing me up a lot.
I'm also having trouble getting those high notes to really ring out and be in tune, as well as the 2 draw. After reading around on the website, I'm assuming that the instrument just isn't being played correctly!!! I'm still working on it.
What's keeping me motivated is the thought of someday being able to jam out to the blues!!! When is a good time to start doing that??
Well, thanks again for all your help. I appreciate any and all comments. SLAG


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webmasteradmin
Member since Jan-20-03
1605 posts		 Mar-20-06, 12:01 PM (PST)
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5. "RE: Mouth Position"
In response to message #4
 
Slag,

That is all great news.

SLAG: "I'm also having trouble getting those high notes to really ring out and be in tune, as well as the 2 draw. After reading around on the website, I'm assuming that the instrument just isn't being played correctly!!! I'm still working on it."
DG: Yes, very true.

SLAG: "What's keeping me motivated is the thought of someday being able to jam out to the blues!!! When is a good time to start doing that??"
DG: As long as you are fairly consistent with your single notes, so that you are not reinforcing bad habits, anytime is good. Start with some simple 2nd Position blues riffs-
http://www.harmonicalessons.com/members/improv_riffs.php

Play on,
Dave Gage


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