Embouchure Emergency: The Bone Is Dry

Embouchure: "The use of lips, tongue, teeth and facial muscles in playing a wind instrument".

I've noticed that lately after about twenty minutes of practice I'm having difficulty hitting single notes with any regularity. I figured that it was obviously fatigue of the facial muscles but it got me thinking about my embouchure and embouchures in general. After a short period of research I discovered that were more than a few types. I also realized that I was using many of them including the Farkas, Stevens, Maggio and even a modified Costello which is now known as either the Farkas, Stevens or Maggio, I forget which.

As an experiment I began to monitor the type of embouchure I was using at any given time and came up with a sequence during a short Little Walter riff that looked something like this: Farkas, Farkas, Stevens, Maggio, Maggio, modified Costello, Farkas, Farkas. Farkas. Tabbed out it goes: F F S M M mC F F F. It gets worse. I think at one point I also utilized the Reinhardt Pivot which I don't even think is possible unless you're playing a French horn or an oboe. My mouth was a mess.

I'm going to call this malady Random Spastic Embouchure Syndrome. If this is already taken please let know and I'll change it immediately. I've got several backups that are almost as good.

If anyone has a cure for this condition pass it along asap if you please. This is not one of those "cool" afflictions like ADD or Sex Addiction that affords you a measure of cultural gravitas. This is embarrassing.

PS Further research has convinced me that my problem can attributed to, um, dry lips. Without moist lips you can't slide the harp easily. The dry harp sticks to your dry lips and twists your mouth into myriad shapes that resemble classic embouchures but are not conducive to good tone. Squeals and squinks, yes. Time for some Chap Stick!

Freeway Jam II

I'm not going to do an entensive breakdown of Rock N Blues Harmonica and the Jamming Buddy cd. It would take about thirty posts to do it justice and your time would be better spent just working the program. Mine too, for that matter. Suffice it to say that I've listened to the cd at least 50 times and each time I've learned something new. This isn't to say that I hear something new each time. It's just that as I learn more about the harmonica and as I become more comfortable with it the lessons take on new meaning. I've also found that each time, almost invariably, I'm able to perform a riff or sequence that I was unable to the previous session. I just successfully performed a classic Little Walter riff while tooling down the I-14 at a cool 75 mph. The previous 49 times through I was lost.

Every time you listen to the Jamming Buddy cd, or any aural instructional for that matter, your subconscious mind is quietly storing information, unbeknownst to you. The next time you listen, your conscious mind receives subliminal messages from the subconscious like, "got that part, yeah that too, um yeah,....wait!, that's the one bit of info we needed to put the whole jigsaw puzzle together. If you've ever had an epiphany, a feeling that a concept that has been inexplicably complex is suddenly clear, this is why. So when you (and this is inevitable) have the feeling that you learned absolutely nothing from a session, you're wrong! The brain is always working. Keep listening and keep playing.

An Homage To Those Who Have Served

One of the harmonica mavens at Harp Depot's members forum shared an historical anecdote about the genesis of Taps. His version, although it was a beautiful story, was later disputed. But just the mention of Taps provoked an onrush of memories and patriotic (although not necessarily pro-war) feelings that fueled a thread that as of this writing is still active. One of the senior members suggested it would be a nice gesture to those who are in harm's way to play taps every night on the harp at 2200. That's 10 pm for you civilians. I figured out how to do it in 1st position. One of the forum guys has the 2nd position tabs posted on the forum.

Taps 1st Position

3b 3b 4b / 3b 4b 5b / 3b 4b 5b / 3b 4b 5b / 3b 4b 5b / 4b 5b 6b 5b 4b 3b / 3b 3b 4b

Playing Taps every night won't overtly change anything. The war won't suddenly end. We won't miraculously gain insight and empathy for our enemies and countries won't, as the bumper sticker says, start waging peace. But the effect of sending out positive vibes to the universe, in whatever form you choose, should not be underestimated. At the very least, in that moment, you're feeling pretty good. Try it on a C harp and see if you don't get chills.

http://www.bushmanmusic.com/forums/forum_topics.asp?FID=1&PN=1

Freeway Jam

I do 90% of my practicing on the SoCal freeways. As a field service telecom tech I have a lot of windshield time and a diminishing tolerance for talk radio. Now, playing harmonica while driving is much more dangerous than having your hands at 10 & 2 and checking your rear view mirror every 5 seconds while thinking only of guiding that vehicle down the road in a continual state of optimal safety. But it's much less dangerous than applying make-up, reading a book, eating a bowl of raman noodles or, god forbid, pleasuring yourself. All of which I have unfortunately witnessed. So I think we can all agree that mobile harp practice results in a net gain in safety. It's a public service of sorts.

I drive with my left and hold the harp with my right. Unless I have to wail on a 3 draw then I check to see that I am safely clear of other vehicles, activate the cruise control and drive with my knees while I tear up the sonic landscape. In a company vehicle this is a calculated risk. But I've got the harp perfectly cupped and out of sight so if I am spotted I can feign a coughing attack while hand-signing that I suffer from chronic bronchitis. This has worked so far as everyone sympathizes with a deaf guy who also has a severe respiratory ailment. It also makes me feel slightly guilty, which gives me the blues and helps me get that fat tone that we're all searching for. So try it out.

Slide the Jammin' Buddy in your CD player and be prepared for Jon to shred, both acoustically and amped, for next several seconds. After that the fun begins.........