12th pos. The secret to overblowing & bending notes pt 1

[SocraticRaver]

straw trick really helps... sweet

[x2mars]

i'm with you, but what note is the over blow in happy birthday? is it a Bb? what hole is the overblow? sorry, i'm new to overblow and 12th position. Thanks!

[Stevelegh]

Hi Chris,

Scrub that, F on a C harp right? Just caught part 2..... Thanks for the lessons.

[Stevelegh]

Hey Chris,

Sorry to ask the question (worst possible question ever!!!), but what key harp are you playing? Isn't She Lovely is in E, so am I right to think you're using a B harp? That seems to be correct the 12th possition according to Angelfire, but I'll be soo annoyed to blow the cash on a new harp if I'm wrong.

Regards

Steve

[LinkjeZ]

So you can play in all 12 positions.. Does that mean you always play the same key of harp? And if so, what key, and are there any advantages to that key or can you do it with any key of harmonica? Thanks!!

[markgharp]

Music is more about emotional content than technique, so your idea of "best harmonica player in the world" is subjective. I've heard what you don't like, which seems to be a lot: Little Walter, the harmonica itself...how about the Harmonicats.. they're playing at a very high technical level, but are also fun and entertaining. Why don't you play us a song? Thrill us with your virtuosity. Try to make us feel something with music.

[chrismichalek]

@markgharp there are lots videos out there that feature me playing music. I like the harmonicats. When I was first learning to play, I was part of a club that played that type of music, you probably would have liked my music then because I played the chromatic instead of the harp. I was very entertaining to watch but I would often forget to push the button.

[markgharp]

@chrismichalek I was just ribbing you man, nice t o see you have a sense of humor.

[gronki1]

I totally agree with your opinion. People do magical tricks with their hands when playing on harmonica, forgetting that the most of job you do with your mouth. (That sounds strange, I'm sorry, but my intentions are good ;)) And it irritates me too that for most of people harp=blues. When I say that I actually prefer jazz, people say "but you can't play it on harmonica!".

[timmy47]

at times you almost made it sound like a seprano sax. very nice.

[AraguaJam]

love your lessons and opionons.. but u know, I like bluessy happy birthdays hehe but the argument about not just playing blues on harps is true

[RayCornett]

Loved the straw analogy. As soon as I heard you say that I knew what you meant even though I didn`t have a straw.

Grabbed my Golden Melody and got it right the first time!

[Ledvolta]

I can't do that campfire wah thing. I'm glad :)

[Oroneki]

U JUST CHANGED MY LIFE!!!! Thaaanks maaan

[Snotlingfondler]

like people are saying below the straw technique actually works! ok i need ti refine it but im overblowing nonetheless, so glad i watched this vid... but i still love harmonica handwaving haha

[gr8rna]

F***K. 2 minutes. Thanks man. I think the name "Marine Band" must make people think of Harps as marching band instruments, like drums with shoulder straps right? Anyway, thanks.

[shortna]

thanks man. excellent video! i'm overblowing in with 5 minutes. some other guy posted a video trying to teach overblowing saying it would take at least 4 years to learn which i knew was bull if give the proper technique. thanks for the tip!

[harmonicazhin]

Amazing stuff. I owe it to you for my first OB using the straw technique.

Understanding WHY the straw technique works opened up a whole new level of understanding for me with both OB's and bends.

Thank you Chris! You rock!

[sjziro]

So Chris, what or where, which hole, draw or blow, on the harmonica is the tonic for 12th position?

[twoflattires]

draw 5

[jsilvatx]

just curious how long have you played? i have a long way to go 1 year down yet it feels like a month lol! good job! and great lesson! thank you

[chrismichalek]

I've been playing over 20 years. I've always had a harmonica, I can remember playing when I was 10 but I didn't get serious until I was 17 that's when I decided I wanted to be the best harmonica player in the world. I don't know if I'll ever achieve that but it was my goal back then.

[mottag8830]

that's funny becuase i wanted to be the best harmonica player ever too. Now my more realistic goal is to be totally proficient at jazz.

[chrismichalek]

why stop trying to be the best? I'm not going to quit that quest.

[StefanosArapoglou]

@chrismichalek Well, good luck getting past jason ricci..

[surrealIdeal]

@StefanosArapoglou Chris is no more. just sayin'.

[cliffworks4321]

@chrismichalek I love your vibrato Chris. btw I still can't get smooth overblows on the RSleigh diatonic, only screech overblows.

[BzBlade]

@cliffworks4321 I think your blowing too hard

[bluzlvr]

I'm still going crazy trying to do overblows. I can do tongue blocking bends, I can do pursing bends, I can do octaves, I can do blow bends, but I just can't get an overblow, even with the straw trick. Could you clarify it a little bit as far as tongue and lip position?

Thanks

One very frustrated harp player.

[HarpLips]

Cool stuff Chris. Love your playing man! Sorry, but I do like the hand wah thing : )

[Klerikerlord]

You just made my day. i´ve been playing for quite a while now and you just teached me how to overblow in 2minutes. Not even with using a straw, just imagening there´d be one did for me.

Thank you so much, wish I would have a teacher like you in my neighbor hood.

Please keep on posting tutorials

- a fan of yours in Japan

[chrismichalek]

Thank you!!

I do online lesson via skype. look for chris.michalek

[hooverbaseball]

wow, thank you so very much man, i've been watching countless videos trying to learn how to bend but could never do it, i tried your straw trick and within seconds i could start to bend! thank you so much for the help!

[Mallamazoo]

I can only overblow on the 6th hole. Why is it so much harder on the other holes?

[mottag8830]

because unlike bends, they require very different mouth positioning, the lower the hole, the more you have to drop yer jaw (like a caveman as howard says)

[HARMONIMONSTER]

I like the straw trick but don't you need a tweeked harp for OB/OB and isn't c on a c harp 1st pos ? Please pardon me for my ignorance,Master.

[chrismichalek]

It's easier to do everything on a tweaked harp but it's not necessary if you have proper technique. Look at what Howard Levy was doing in the 80s and early 90s with stock GMs.

C to C on a C harp is 1st position. Sorry for the mistake.

[dlange123]

does the straw trick work reverse for draw bends?

[chrismichalek]

YES!!! Bends, bloww bends, OB and ODs are about airstream control. I think the biggest issue people have when learning these techniques is listening for the sound rather than focusing on the airstream. The straw forces  you to focus on your airstream only.

[Creamyguitar1956]

I have a question? Which harmonica is supposed to be best? I have a couple old Golden Melody's but I see most folks on youTube play Marine Band. Help???

[chrismichalek]

It's subjective. Generally brands like Hohner, Lee Oskar, Suzuki, Hering, sydel are best, after that it's what feels best to you. I think most people "copy cat" what they see others play and otherwise have no real reason for playing what they do. That said, I had Marine bands modified by joe filisko and Golden Melodies modified by myself. Personally I like how Golden Melodies sound and feel but my custom marine bands play better than my GMs. I MOSTLY play GMs but that's not a hard or fast rule

[Creamyguitar1956]

Thanks man...I am really aguitar player but want to expand my repertoire. Fun to play the harp with the guitar..Now if I can just keep my mustache hairs from sticking in the harmonica. OUCH.

[ZackPomerleau]

Chris, I have a question, the straw thing, do I bend it so there is a crease in the straw? Is this shaping my oral cavity?

[chrismichalek]

NO. Don't crease the straw. You want a full stream of air to come out at all angles

[ZackPomerleau]

So I put it in my mouth as if I was drinking soda or something, and that helps me put my oral cavity in the right place for blowbends and overblows? Real cool!

[blogward]

Chris, you are a man of vision (and the straw trick is brilliant). The harp can be made to sound like a flute and even a panpipe, but these too are niche instruments. When I see these guys with their harp bandoliers...aaarghh!

[musicmankwok]

Part I&II of yours are the best explanation on bend or overblow for beginners in harp in blues or jazz. Thank you for your time and effort to help learners like me and others still struggling all over the world.

[Harplicks]

Hey Chris,

Totally with you on the hand vibrato. Ugh! Anyway I've been really getting into 12th lately and having a lot of fun with it. For me, the door was opened when I put it to a I VI II V progression. Nice stuff!

--Mojo

[jsilvatx]

right on love your philsophy! lol good job!

[shotgunartscene]

More great observations and skills information Chris...'Happy Bath-day to you'...

[chrismichalek]

from reedmaster: sorry I "removed" instead of replied to your comment...

Most harp players are generally harp players first & musicians second. The ones that are on top are usually good musicians to begin with. Toots on guitar, Stevie & Howard on piano, Hendrik on vibraphone and even they're not household names, except for Stevie. But the rest generally don't measure up to the standards of the music world. I believe that's what holds harmonica back, not certain techniques like hand vibrato.

[chrismichalek]

Right! but we can start with simple things like awareness. I'm a harmonica player first guy.

[chrismichalek]

when I do these vids I purposely try to not mention theory unless I have to... There are so many weakness but they don't have to be. Hopefully everybody will work to get this gem of an instrument over the hill to "legitimize" it in the eyes of other musicians.

[ReedMasterDude]

Believe me, I'm on your side. But I don't think that'll ever happen, especially with the diatonic. It's an imperfect instrument with a sound that is not pleasing to everyone. Of course, you can overcome that by mastering bends, overbends & working on your pitch & intonation, but even then... I don't know... I hope you're right.

[ReedMasterDude]

I admire ur techniques, dedication & contribution to online harmonica community, but... if we start pointing out harmonica's weaknesses, then there's no end to it.

[ReedMasterDude]

You mentioned hand vibrato, but what about choppy throat vibrato? And the pitch & intonation prob... Every harp player has that, even H.Levy.