Richard Sleigh ( rsleigh.com/ ) describes what actually causes a note to bend on a harmonica and shows a technique that will help you to develop your bending skills
After countless video tutorials and frustration THIS LESSON CAME THROUGH loud and clear. The tounge position was everything. I got my first solid bend. THANK YOU SO MUCH
i've watched several vids on bending... you're the only one i saw that said to change the volume to match the resonance frequency... i was previously trying to bend by opening my throat as much as i could.... now i know it's not that way... it's making my mouth the correct volume of airspace..... like tuning a speaker enclosure to match the speakers.. or that's how i get it... now i got it.. used my tuner and now i know i'm bending the note down. this is AWESOME advice!!!!!!!!!!!!
@@richardroysleigh No, Thank YOU Richard! You are an amazing teacher! Thank you for giving hope to the many people out there who, like me, have a harder time learning than most.
I’ve been able to bend but not consistently to pitch. This video as it relates to chamber volume provided the final touches. First time tried using middle of my tongue to shape the chamber I was able to bend all the way to the bottom on the 3 draw. Another milestone in my playing! Thanks
Thank you, sir..your method works! After a long search on how to bend tones in harmonica, I found this and tried your instruction and explanation. The most helpful one was when you showed inside your mouth when bending notes. My first clean and reproducible bend! 🙏🏼
Brilliant! I have been moving my tongue forward while keeping the back up and have always had trouble hitting my bends consistently. The second I tried the hollow out "spoon" thing I got better results and was able to do it without a lot of force, I can do it while being more relaxed. Fantastic Richard!
Richard: I am just beginning to learn how to play harmonica and this gave me some great insights. I am subscribing to your channel to see what else I can learn. Cheers.
Richard, the prop of a reed to demonstrate the vibration is a great idea. Clear explanation, too. Nothing better than learning from a master player and craftsman!
Awesome lesson, you actually explained clearly what everyone else was talking about but you understand and provide information that males sense. Thank you 😊
Finally somebody who describes, what actually has to change inside the mouth. I got some bends before, but this method is much easyer and more clear. Thanks a lot!
Thank you Joonas - I get deeper into the idea of tuning the space inside your mouth in this video: "The Only Thing That Makes Harmonica Notes Bend" czcams.com/video/Fp-GxEaChr0/video.html
Ah ah moment!!! Something about being able to bend with my tongue touching the bottom of my lower teeth. Then a bit higher. Then blocking holes 2 & 3 bending 4... Lip pursed bending was easy. Now I can slowly start to bend while TBing. Thank you!
Maybe you could try using a spoon to push your tongue into the shape i am describing. If you can get a little of the shape, you can keep doing more of whatever worked to create the shape.
I can only bend on the first hole! Like you say, Its all about experimenting to find that special shape in your mouth that allows that bending resonance
Yes, it is a hohner crossover. I take the cover plates off sometimes to demonstrate that when you bend a draw note, the blow reed ends up playing the deepest bent note. To show this , I will have a harp with no covers, bend the note, and then put my finger on the draw reed from the hole I am bending, and the note still plays - because it is the blow reed now playing the bent note. I may not have included that demonstration in this video... in that case, yes, it looks a little wierd....
@@richardroysleigh thanks for the quick reply. by the way you are a very good teacher, everyone learns differently but I personally really like that you cover the topic in extreme detail, I looked for a while trying to find an explanation of what is actually happening when you bend a note and your video was the best by far.
After countless video tutorials and frustration THIS LESSON CAME THROUGH loud and clear. The tounge position was everything. I got my first solid bend. THANK YOU SO MUCH
Me too
same
same here :)
i've watched several vids on bending... you're the only one i saw that said to change the volume to match the resonance frequency... i was previously trying to bend by opening my throat as much as i could.... now i know it's not that way... it's making my mouth the correct volume of airspace..... like tuning a speaker enclosure to match the speakers.. or that's how i get it... now i got it.. used my tuner and now i know i'm bending the note down. this is AWESOME advice!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yep. Same here!
@@Melissa-nd8qc I know I am really late to the party, but thank you so much for taking the time to write your responses to my video!
@@richardroysleigh No, Thank YOU Richard! You are an amazing teacher! Thank you for giving hope to the many people out there who, like me, have a harder time learning than most.
I’ve been able to bend but not consistently to pitch. This video as it relates to chamber volume provided the final touches. First time tried using middle of my tongue to shape the chamber I was able to bend all the way to the bottom on the 3 draw. Another milestone in my playing! Thanks
Thank you, sir..your method works!
After a long search on how to bend tones in harmonica, I found this and tried your instruction and explanation. The most helpful one was when you showed inside your mouth when bending notes.
My first clean and reproducible bend! 🙏🏼
Brilliant! I have been moving my tongue forward while keeping the back up and have always had trouble hitting my bends consistently. The second I tried the hollow out "spoon" thing I got better results and was able to do it without a lot of force, I can do it while being more relaxed. Fantastic Richard!
Richard: I am just beginning to learn how to play harmonica and this gave me some great insights. I am subscribing to your channel to see what else I can learn. Cheers.
Richard, the prop of a reed to demonstrate the vibration is a great idea. Clear explanation, too. Nothing better than learning from a master player and craftsman!
Thanks, man!
you are a great teacher, the video helped me visualize the bend, thank you from India.
Awesome lesson, you actually explained clearly what everyone else was talking about but you understand and provide information that males sense. Thank you 😊
Thank you so much for letting me know! - I am glad this was useful,,,
Immediate response with this method. Many thanks!
Awesome lesson! Thank you!
Finally somebody who describes, what actually has to change inside the mouth. I got some bends before, but this method is much easyer and more clear. Thanks a lot!
Thank you Joonas - I get deeper into the idea of tuning the space inside your mouth in this video: "The Only Thing That Makes Harmonica Notes Bend" czcams.com/video/Fp-GxEaChr0/video.html
So far U R the best.
Great vid, thank you from Montreal!
Thank you for your advice i will try it🤗
Thanks.! Good explanation
That's a good tip,thanks
Good explanation thanks
Great demonstrate
Excellent - the 'spoon' illustration makes sense. Still not hitting the 3 draw bend properly but I guess practice will eventually tell!
Ah ah moment!!! Something about being able to bend with my tongue touching the bottom of my lower teeth. Then a bit higher. Then blocking holes 2 & 3 bending 4... Lip pursed bending was easy. Now I can slowly start to bend while TBing. Thank you!
Very good presentation. So, actually, harmonica is an inward flute. Simple but great idea! Thanks!
Richard, are you able to use this technique when you tongue block bends? Thanks for your lesson!
But my tonuge can not move like you do. How to excercise?
Maybe you could try using a spoon to push your tongue into the shape i am describing. If you can get a little of the shape, you can keep doing more of whatever worked to create the shape.
@@richardroysleigh This is a good advice. I'll try it. Thanks!
Well explained. Now just need more practice time.
I can only bend on the first hole! Like you say, Its all about experimenting to find that special shape in your mouth that allows that bending resonance
i can bend first note only 🙄🙄
Is that a Hohner crossover you’re using? And why do you not have the cover plate on
Yes, it is a hohner crossover. I take the cover plates off sometimes to demonstrate that when you bend a draw note, the blow reed ends up playing the deepest bent note. To show this , I will have a harp with no covers, bend the note, and then put my finger on the draw reed from the hole I am bending, and the note still plays - because it is the blow reed now playing the bent note. I may not have included that demonstration in this video... in that case, yes, it looks a little wierd....
@@richardroysleigh thanks for the quick reply. by the way you are a very good teacher, everyone learns differently but I personally really like that you cover the topic in extreme detail, I looked for a while trying to find an explanation of what is actually happening when you bend a note and your video was the best by far.
Harmonica is hard I give up