Hey, Jonah! I really have not had much use for doing overblow, BUT, when I purchased my first Arkia Signature, I was able to do an overblow and overdraw right out-of-the-box. I doubt most of your viewers are going to want to spend that kind of money (approx. $175US), but it is certainly the easiest harmonica I have ever used for doing bends/overblows/overdraws. Great video! Cheers.
Yeah, I agree. Custom harps are great too, but for an out of the box harp, it’s the best. The origin is pretty damn good too, but they’re out of stock at the moment. Bad timing for when I made this video but it is what it is.
howdy great channel. im not sure if you covered this but i was curious what microphone you use to record yourself for youtube ? My Harmonica loses a lot of quality when i try to record myself
I have two microphones that I use. The one that I use for TH-cam videos is a blue ember condenser microphone. For recording, I use a Steinberg E835. The thing is with harmonica, you really need to add compression after you record, or it loses a ton of its punch. If I’m making a recording, like some of the music videos on my channel, then I also add an EQ boost in the frequencies, some reverb, and I have a couple other special plug-ins that I use as well to give it a little extra punch
overblow on the hole 1 ,not to mention ... and you can bend them up, yeah. ❤❤❤❤ every guitar freshly bought is fine adjusted, so we do on harps, yes? so be your own customizer. brass lot easier, steel not that quick.
I've been trying to get the overblow down, and while I can make the sound happen, it's not very controlled and the same reeds that do the overblow are the same hole as my draw reeds which always go flat first.
Hi. I have a question. I can overblow confidently on holes 4, 5, and 6 on all my harmonicas in A and above, but I mainly play a G harmonica. I can’t quite get a clear overblow on hole 4 on any of my Gs. Is this normal? And is it because the inside of my mouth just isn’t quite long/deep enough to form the shape that would cleanly overblow a G h
@@gratchenfleiss i’ve noticed that overblow is actually get a little easier on the lower harmonicas. If you’re having trouble on a G, it’s probably a set up issue for that specific harmonica
Thanks for this video. I am wondering if it is really necessary to learn overblows given the fact that customised harps for this purpose are more expensive than harps with custom tunings that might be an alternative. In addition to that I think learning techniques you don't need regularly (overblows have been "invented" in the 70s and not played by a lot of brilliant harp players before) might be a waste of time - if time is a limiting factor. Plus it is very hard to play these techniques with an adeaquate timing so I would think I'd prefer the way to "cheat" me around this by playing a harp that does not need to be overblown to get what I want. Just my thoughts, had no need for overblows so far and also this opinion might be a bit laziness driven. ("Why work so hard?" - B.B. King) What do you think? What custom tunings make sense btw. as far as you are experienced?
I like custom tuning, especially natural minor, and country tuning. The big difference is flexibility. You can play in second position, but easily play those notes that you're missing if you can learn how to overblow. Wether it's worth to learn really depends on what kind of music you play and how fast you end up picking it up. If it all it takes is a few weeks of occasional practice until you can use them, I don't see a downside. However, is it worth years of hard work? Probably not, but you won't know until you go all in and try. However, I wouldn't try that hard on a harmonica that hasn't been set up for it. Arkia's and the new JDR Assassin which I will be reviewing soon are decent choices that are set up for overblows.
Double check your reed set up, and keep trying. Personally, this was my experience too for a long time until it just started working. You have to figure out the exact amount position to achieve this, and it takes time.
@@HarmonicaRevolution when I use the harp trainer I can’t tell if I’m not bending notes all the way or if my harps are just slightly out of tune but I can’t ever bend all the way
I still try to get them down, but I got blow-bends down and frankly just playing bends will untune a harmonica fast enough. Call it a cop-out from the top level, but after spending $50 on each key I start to feel concerned with how long it lasts, like a pair of shoes.
Customizers talk about the reed "profile", which might curve a bit from the base to the end. I would add to your advice that I find it is much more important to close the gap near the base/rivet end of the reed, compared to the rest of the reed. When you push it in as much as possible at the base, you will get a cleaner OB with less squeaking; on the other hand, you will get better action on the regular note if you let the reed open out a bit at the end. The art of gapping is getting the perfect sweet spot where the OB and the regular notes are effortless.
They talk about it because it’s the most impactful adjustment that can be made. Closing the gapping will help produce an overblow, but it does not set it up to play optimally. There’s a difference between being able to play an OB, and being able to use them. Profiling is not easy to adjust, it takes years of work to perfect. There’s a reason why custom harps from a legit harp tech is unmatched.
@@norfolknwhey4787 I don't find gapping to be that difficult, and I just use a simple paper clip. You need decent fine motor skills, a gentle touch and patience. The profile I described, in which the gapping is very tight at the base of the reed but opens up at the end, works really well. I can get very smooth, usable OBs without sacrificing the responsiveness of the regular notes too badly.
Hey, Jonah! I really have not had much use for doing overblow, BUT, when I purchased my first Arkia Signature, I was able to do an overblow and overdraw right out-of-the-box. I doubt most of your viewers are going to want to spend that kind of money (approx. $175US), but it is certainly the easiest harmonica I have ever used for doing bends/overblows/overdraws. Great video! Cheers.
Yeah, I agree. Custom harps are great too, but for an out of the box harp, it’s the best. The origin is pretty damn good too, but they’re out of stock at the moment. Bad timing for when I made this video but it is what it is.
Usefull information for me, thank you! First i need to learn the bending technique😊
howdy great channel. im not sure if you covered this but i was curious what microphone you use to record yourself for youtube ? My Harmonica loses a lot of quality when i try to record myself
I have two microphones that I use. The one that I use for TH-cam videos is a blue ember condenser microphone. For recording, I use a Steinberg E835. The thing is with harmonica, you really need to add compression after you record, or it loses a ton of its punch. If I’m making a recording, like some of the music videos on my channel, then I also add an EQ boost in the frequencies, some reverb, and I have a couple other special plug-ins that I use as well to give it a little extra punch
@@HarmonicaRevolution thank you so much
Hi Jonah Do you do these overblows toungue blocked?
Yes. I find that they are slightly easier when puckered, but I don't like switching between embouchures when I play. Too much complication.
Wow!!! Maybe you could make a video about that, as informations about this are extremely hard to find.Thanks for answering 😊😊😊
overblow on the hole 1 ,not to mention ... and you can bend them up, yeah. ❤❤❤❤
every guitar freshly bought is fine adjusted, so we do on harps, yes? so be your own customizer. brass lot easier, steel not that quick.
What about the Half-valved (a.k.a. "Gazelle") harmonica? I've been thinking about buying a Seydel Gazelle.
I've been trying to get the overblow down, and while I can make the sound happen, it's not very controlled and the same reeds that do the overblow are the same hole as my draw reeds which always go flat first.
?????? I'm confused. I guess I need to get a harmonica and start with lesson 1.
🦻
When I try to overblow I… lower the pitch 😂
Hi. I have a question. I can overblow confidently on holes 4, 5, and 6 on all my harmonicas in A and above, but I mainly play a G harmonica. I can’t quite get a clear overblow on hole 4 on any of my Gs. Is this normal? And is it because the inside of my mouth just isn’t quite long/deep enough to form the shape that would cleanly overblow a G h
@@gratchenfleiss i’ve noticed that overblow is actually get a little easier on the lower harmonicas. If you’re having trouble on a G, it’s probably a set up issue for that specific harmonica
I’m enjoying your videos more and more these days. Subbed. Cheers!
Awesome, thank you!
You're a great teacher, but I hate the modern angled camera shots -- sorry.
Thanks for the feedback!
Thanks for this video. I am wondering if it is really necessary to learn overblows given the fact that customised harps for this purpose are more expensive than harps with custom tunings that might be an alternative. In addition to that I think learning techniques you don't need regularly (overblows have been "invented" in the 70s and not played by a lot of brilliant harp players before) might be a waste of time - if time is a limiting factor. Plus it is very hard to play these techniques with an adeaquate timing so I would think I'd prefer the way to "cheat" me around this by playing a harp that does not need to be overblown to get what I want. Just my thoughts, had no need for overblows so far and also this opinion might be a bit laziness driven. ("Why work so hard?" - B.B. King) What do you think? What custom tunings make sense btw. as far as you are experienced?
I like custom tuning, especially natural minor, and country tuning. The big difference is flexibility. You can play in second position, but easily play those notes that you're missing if you can learn how to overblow. Wether it's worth to learn really depends on what kind of music you play and how fast you end up picking it up. If it all it takes is a few weeks of occasional practice until you can use them, I don't see a downside. However, is it worth years of hard work? Probably not, but you won't know until you go all in and try. However, I wouldn't try that hard on a harmonica that hasn't been set up for it. Arkia's and the new JDR Assassin which I will be reviewing soon are decent choices that are set up for overblows.
@@HarmonicaRevolution Thank you for your quick answer, that absolutely fits into my perspective of the topic. ✌🏻
Unpleasant metallic sounds are the only sounds that come out of my harmonicas 😂
That sounds about average for 95% of harmonica players.
Double check your reed set up, and keep trying. Personally, this was my experience too for a long time until it just started working. You have to figure out the exact amount position to achieve this, and it takes time.
@@HarmonicaRevolution I just set the reads in one of my rockets and a hohner blues harp the other day I could definitely tell a difference
@@HarmonicaRevolution when I use the harp trainer I can’t tell if I’m not bending notes all the way or if my harps are just slightly out of tune but I can’t ever bend all the way
11:20 agrée. They become annoying … not as fast to respond. Makes me crazy …
I have tried like a gelding for 8 years to produce an OB. It ain't gonna happen. And I play quality instruments.
I still try to get them down, but I got blow-bends down and frankly just playing bends will untune a harmonica fast enough. Call it a cop-out from the top level, but after spending $50 on each key I start to feel concerned with how long it lasts, like a pair of shoes.
Customizers talk about the reed "profile", which might curve a bit from the base to the end. I would add to your advice that I find it is much more important to close the gap near the base/rivet end of the reed, compared to the rest of the reed. When you push it in as much as possible at the base, you will get a cleaner OB with less squeaking; on the other hand, you will get better action on the regular note if you let the reed open out a bit at the end. The art of gapping is getting the perfect sweet spot where the OB and the regular notes are effortless.
Good advice, thank you!
They talk about it because it’s the most impactful adjustment that can be made. Closing the gapping will help produce an overblow, but it does not set it up to play optimally. There’s a difference between being able to play an OB, and being able to use them. Profiling is not easy to adjust, it takes years of work to perfect. There’s a reason why custom harps from a legit harp tech is unmatched.
@@norfolknwhey4787 I don't find gapping to be that difficult, and I just use a simple paper clip. You need decent fine motor skills, a gentle touch and patience. The profile I described, in which the gapping is very tight at the base of the reed but opens up at the end, works really well. I can get very smooth, usable OBs without sacrificing the responsiveness of the regular notes too badly.