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From: Steve & Anne Price
Date: Wed, 16 Oct 1996 14:41:37 -0500 (CDT)
Subject: tone (was breathing)

On Wed, 16 Oct 1996, Peter Morrissey wrote:

> I think I am even getting desperate enough to search the archives
> for Mike Curtis's instructions on valving a harp as this is the
> most concrete suggestion that I have yet to hear on how to improve
> tone.
>

I know that Mike makes many big claims or the value of valving
his harmonica, but I don't think he has (yet) made the claim that you get
a better tone that way. I think the only legimitate claim he has made is
that you can bend otherwise unbendable notes (i.e. the blow notes of the
lower end and the draw notes of the higher end), to make a diatonic
harmonica essentially chromatic, too, albeit without the chords that are
available by switching harps for the appropriate key.

Good tone seems to be from a combination of things affecting the
harmonica. Not losing air is important to good tone, and so your
emboucher is important. Using your hands can help, and so making the
sound resonate with the way you hold it (Doug Tate can explain that one
better). How one shapes the mouth and tongue affects the tone (try
playing either a draw or a blow note and make your tongue go "eeee" and
then "ooooooo" and you'll hear the difference). I imagine what you do
with your throat muscles affects tone, and, of course proper breathing
affects tone. And of course half of us think that the materials in the
harmonica affect tone, and the other half doesn't, or doesn't think it's
very important.

As for exercises, I'd say, keep playing, though I look forward to
other suggestions as well.

Steve Price