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DATE: Thu, 15 Sep 1994 12:40:01 CDT
From: Richard Owen
Subject: RE: Bending

Over-blowing, under-blowing, draw-bending and blow-bending all involve making
a reed sound when air travels over it in the opposite direction from when the
reed is played without applying a technique. This is acheived primarily by
creating an appropriately sized resonant chamber with your mouth and pharynx.

Bending - Produces pitches between the lower and upper tunings in a given hole.
The lower tuned reed produces most of the sound. It is not
possible to bend lower than about a semi-tone above this reed, nor is
it possible to bend above the upper tuning so holes 5 and 7 can
barely be bent. If the blow reed is tuned below the draw reed then a
draw-bend technique is required. If the blow reed is tuned above the
draw note then a blow-bend technique must be used.

Over-Blowing and Over-Drawing - Produces pitches above the upper tuning in a
given hole. The higer tuned reed produces most of the sound. It is
not possible to over-play (for want of a better term) lower than
about a semi-tone above this reed. If the blow reed is tuned below
the draw reed then and over-blowing technique is required. If the
blow reed is tuned above the draw reed then an over-drawing technique
must be used. All holes can be over-played, I'm not sure of any
limits (other than practical) that govern how high a pitch can be
produced with this technique. Over-blowing holes 1,4,5,6 and over-
drawing holes 7,9 by a semi-tone produces notes that straight
playing and bending cannot produce. Over-blowing holes 4,5 and 6
require a similar technique to blow-bending holes 8,9 and 10. Over-
blowing hole 1 is most easily achieved by expelling air with your
mouth rather than your lungs or diaphragm; although it's hard to
sustain with this technique. Over-drawing holes 7 and 9 requires a
straw-sucking approach similar to whispering 'tser' or 'tsoo' while
inhaling.

I have read this fifty times for errors but apologies if I got any of my
'blows' and 'draws', 'uppers' and 'lowers' switched.

| From: wlgrog~ae.ssu.umd.edu
| To: Harp~KUVX1.WKU.EDU
| Subject: RE: Bending [LONG]
|
| Hugh,
| Good instructions for Tan, they should really help her technique and
| speed up her learning process. One question. I'm familir with overblowing, as
| in holes 8-10, which is really just bending blow notes, right? I've never
| heard of overdrawing though and wonder how this is accomplished? Perhaps I'm
| already doing this and don't realize it since I play strictly by ear and like
| you, pucker block only. However, I'm having a hard time visualizing how to do
| it, soooo.....can you explain it for me. I do see that you mention that you arehaving a hard time with this procedure, so maybe you can enlighten us non-music
| readers. Thanks.
| Bill Grogan
| wlgrog~ae.ssu.umd.edu
|