Thanks so much Liam. Your explanation of what is actually happening in an overblow is the best I've ever heard. Once I understood that you have to keep pushing after you have the reed choked I was able to produce (within about 10 tries by adjusting my mouth cavity) the beginnings of an actual overblow, and I was even able to hold it for a second or two on occasion. I was astounded as I had never been able to do that before at all and I have been trying for a very long time. Pun intended, I was blown away. I am now confident that with practice I'll get the hang of it. Thanks again, bro!
Thanks John. It seriously makes my day when a video helps someone like this, and that was the exact reason I made this video. I think there are lots of people out there who stop at the choking phase because no one is there to tell them to keep pushing. Here's to many more overblows for you!
This was so helpful!! With the cover plates off I was finally able to get the sound I was trying to get -- now I'm trying to apply that with the plates back on....
Hello Liam. The Floral Dance appeals to me but I'm finding it difficult to play! Perhaps as a beginner I'm over ambitious but would greatly appreciate a lesson if possible please - Thank You!
Thanks! Yesterday I saw your video (late at night), today morning I got my first 3 overblows (6, 5 and 4) hahaha. Even 6 tongue blocked which is my aim. Can I be more grateful to you? THANKS! And after achieving them for the first time I can agree overblow is a bad term. It's more like a blow bend that happens to bend the opposite reed in a weird way hahaha. But feels like a harder blow bend definitely.
Hi Liam could you please try and get the tabs for the war movie A bridge to far please. Thank you for your amazing lessons. I'm a complete noob but already I can play about 25 tunes(single notes) all thanks to you. Top man keep up the good work
Excuse me for bad English,Liam,But if i understood,for this trick about overbend needs to play harmonica without cover or I misunuderstandineg?Tanks and.Bravo
Yes you are correct Reginald. This video is meant to help you to have a better understanding of the process involved in an overbend, so that when you put the cover plates back on you will understand it better.
thanks so MUCH !!... to clarify.,, over BLOW notes are always on 'BLOW" holes where you actually blow?? i only ask because you mentioned "think of actually BEND" that note at about 5:05... bending to me implies draw.... so let me know when possible... VERY GRATEFUL
It's possible to bend notes on draw (holes 1-6) and blow (holes 7-10) so "bend" should not imply draw necessarily. An overblow is indeed on a blow note. However it's also possible to overdraw notes. Together these are called overbends - OVER because they give you a note higher than the natural note (although you will hear people talk about overblows more ... and sometimes even use that word as a catch-all for overblows and overdraws). I hope this doesn't confuse you further!
Liam,I can"t hit that 5th note of the intro to midnight cowboy, (-4 4 -3 -2 ) I can"t get that -3/ bend? Overblows are out of reach for me without taking off the cover.Please help!! I LOVE this song and movie. Thank you!!
Hi Richard, perhaps I need to do a proper lesson on overblows, it's something I haven't got round to yet. I don't use them too much myself so don't get down about it!
Hi, thanks for the video. I have a question though, is it normal to get a F sharp instead of B flat tone when overblowing the sixth hole on a c harmonica?
I recommend short, regular practice - every day if possible, but not for hours on end because it's hard to do real, productive practice for so long. Maybe 20 minute stints?
I can get it sometimes, but i find i'm not isolating the single hole very well when trying the overblow, like i can on normal notes, and am leaking into the others so the sound is sometimes corresponding to those other holes. Any tips?
Thanks again, Liam. But what do you mean by "push through" after you choke the reed? I'm good at choking the reed, but then what? Just keep blowing? Blow harder? Blow softer?
I'm finally getting somewhere by making the sound 'kwee' when I choke the reed. It makes all sorts of squeals and looking at my tuner one of them is the Bb 'overblow'. I've just got to isolate the part of the 'kwee' that makes the right sound! BTW I'm using hole six on a Sugar Cane custom harp.
Generally speaking OOTB harps are not properly set up for OB's, I'm trying on the Sugar Cane key of C and Andrew Zajac key of A. One day, it's becoming an obsession, I WILL overblow....
Hi Tan Arthakamol - generally the cheapest harmonicas will be very difficult to overblow but this trick should help a little. If you really want to get into overblows you need to think about investing in something like a Hohner Golden Melody which is a bit easier to overblow. Beyond that, you can customise your harmonica to make the technique easier.
Hi Liam just starting out I'd love to be able to play Dionne Warwick n Steve wonders that what friends are for, on a c harmonica if you could it would keep me motivated.. thanks colin
Hi Liam,Very helpful information on the 6 overblow. On my C Harp I was able to push trough that first stage (G Note and then stopping it), but then always end up with the wrong overblow note (Gb Note) instead of Bb where i should have landed. Any idea why?
Hi Tom, thanks for the question. OK, so if you're getting a Gb it could be either of two things: 1. You need to keep pushing lower because you haven't reached the point where the overblow pops out, you're just getting a slightly flat version of the normal 6 blow note which is a G. 2. You could actually be overblowing the 5 blow - are you sure you're on the 6? Hope that makes sense! Cheers, Liam
The secret is out. Now schoolboys everywhere will be overblowing like mad. the cat is out of the bag. no really thanks for the explaination, there is simply no other place to get this secret info. I thank you for the tip.
You're welcome. Brendan Power has just developed a tool called the Overblow Booster, it might interest you because it basically does this 'choking' job I demonstrate in this video, but without having to dismantle the harmonica, so it makes overblows easier. Here's his demo video - maybe comment on his video as he's happy to chat. Say I sent you! th-cam.com/video/XSMVe1wG34I/w-d-xo.html
Why can't someone just teach how to blow and what to do with your mouth?! I don't need an entire history lesson on overblows or how to do it with a screwdriver! Jesus
Thanks for watching! Start your 30 day FREE trial of my harmonica school today - www.learntheharmonica.com/members-zone-signup
I respect you with my soul and my heart.You are my harmonica teacher.You are teacher harmonica legend.🙏
Thanks for the explanation of what happens to the reeds on a 6 over blow. Now please, some lesson about setting up the harp to facilitate overblow.
Very clear & easily understood explanation, thank you for your time & effort.
You're welcome John, thanks for watching :)
Thanks so much Liam. Your explanation of what is actually happening in an overblow is the best I've ever heard. Once I understood that you have to keep pushing after you have the reed choked I was able to produce (within about 10 tries by adjusting my mouth cavity) the beginnings of an actual overblow, and I was even able to hold it for a second or two on occasion. I was astounded as I had never been able to do that before at all and I have been trying for a very long time. Pun intended, I was blown away. I am now confident that with practice I'll get the hang of it. Thanks again, bro!
Thanks John. It seriously makes my day when a video helps someone like this, and that was the exact reason I made this video. I think there are lots of people out there who stop at the choking phase because no one is there to tell them to keep pushing. Here's to many more overblows for you!
By far the most generous information about over-bends, I am an overblow player already and i can tell, cheers
Cheers mate!
That was painless and a stellar approach to the overblow...Thanks
You're welcome Richardo, thanks for watching my video. Cheers. Liam
WOW that was super helpful and original. Thanks Liam.😜
No problem 👍
Your guidance is very simple and easy to understand, I like it very much,Thank you.
Thank you Iwai Masahisa!
You are teacher harmonica legend.🙏
This was so helpful!! With the cover plates off I was finally able to get the sound I was trying to get -- now I'm trying to apply that with the plates back on....
Nice one. I'm glad it helped :)
Very well explained! Great video, it compliments the other approaches to this technique.Kudos!
Thanks Irene :)
Great leason Liam !
Thanks Ron!
As always, great video! It took a couple of tries, but I finally manage to do my first ob! Thanks!
Well done Rick, that's a great achievement. Big pat on the back :) Cheers. Liam
Wondrous lesson
thanks to this tip I could execute an overblow on hole 6 using a cheap easttop harmonica. thanks for the lesson, you helped me a lot
You are welcome, Leonardo. Thank you for watching and commenting. Good luck to you! Cheers. Liam
Totally get it now you explained this so well , great tip tks my friend 👍
Great, I'm glad this helped. Good luck Ricki :)
@@Learntheharmonica thank you I need it ☺
Wow, thank you for this video....it has really helped me understand over blows and overdraws!!
No problem Wesley Jones, glad it helped! :)
Awesome video bro!!!! I coming trying that a long time and now I start do the overbends!!! Thank you so much about this video!!!😁😁😁😁
You're very welcome Hoechst Cornélio, thanks for watching :)
Thank you very much. Well done-Well explained and interesting..thanks again..
You're very welcome Kurtie7 :)
Excellent lesson and great advice mate
Cheers dude, hope to see you at a gig soon.
Hello Liam. The Floral Dance appeals to me but I'm finding it difficult to play! Perhaps as a beginner I'm over ambitious but would greatly appreciate a lesson if possible please - Thank You!
GREAT explanation! Thanks so much.
You're welcome Jamie. Are we cousins? ;)
Perhaps we are, Liam. Perhaps we are.
well explained, thank you
You're very welcome.
you're a totally cool cat with these awesome lessons!!
Thanks Bill!
Excellent. Thanks!
Glad it was helpful!
Thanks! Yesterday I saw your video (late at night), today morning I got my first 3 overblows (6, 5 and 4) hahaha. Even 6 tongue blocked which is my aim. Can I be more grateful to you? THANKS!
And after achieving them for the first time I can agree overblow is a bad term. It's more like a blow bend that happens to bend the opposite reed in a weird way hahaha. But feels like a harder blow bend definitely.
Congratulations Marc Carné Bori!
Hi Liam could you please try and get the tabs for the war movie A bridge to far please. Thank you for your amazing lessons. I'm a complete noob but already I can play about 25 tunes(single notes) all thanks to you. Top man keep up the good work
Nice one Philip, keep it up. Thanks for the request - I'll check it out 😎
Very insightful
absolutetly splendid! Thanks a lot!
You're welcome :)
Thanks!
No problem!
Exellent!!!🙂👍👌
Excuse me for bad English,Liam,But if i understood,for this trick about overbend needs to play harmonica without cover or I misunuderstandineg?Tanks and.Bravo
Yes you are correct Reginald. This video is meant to help you to have a better understanding of the process involved in an overbend, so that when you put the cover plates back on you will understand it better.
thanks so MUCH !!... to clarify.,, over BLOW notes are always on 'BLOW" holes where you actually blow?? i only ask because you mentioned "think of actually BEND" that note at about 5:05... bending to me implies draw.... so let me know when possible... VERY GRATEFUL
It's possible to bend notes on draw (holes 1-6) and blow (holes 7-10) so "bend" should not imply draw necessarily.
An overblow is indeed on a blow note. However it's also possible to overdraw notes. Together these are called overbends - OVER because they give you a note higher than the natural note (although you will hear people talk about overblows more ... and sometimes even use that word as a catch-all for overblows and overdraws).
I hope this doesn't confuse you further!
Liam,I can"t hit that 5th note of the intro to midnight cowboy, (-4 4 -3 -2 ) I can"t get that -3/ bend?
Overblows are out of reach for me without taking off the cover.Please help!! I LOVE this song and movie. Thank you!!
Hi Richard, perhaps I need to do a proper lesson on overblows, it's something I haven't got round to yet. I don't use them too much myself so don't get down about it!
Will you do a lesson on Deep down in Florida by Muddy Waters. My name is orlando
Great teacher. 🚂💨🔥🎵
Hi, thanks for the video. I have a question though, is it normal to get a F sharp instead of B flat tone when overblowing the sixth hole on a c harmonica?
How long should you practice on your harmonica
I recommend short, regular practice - every day if possible, but not for hours on end because it's hard to do real, productive practice for so long. Maybe 20 minute stints?
Great info thanks Liam. Which holes can you over blow on, just 6 or from 6 onwards?
Hi Andy, it's actually possible to overblow holes 1-6 and overdraw holes 7-10.
Couldn't get the 6 overblow still😞 on an A and Bflat.
I could though get the 7 and 8 overdrawn on both A and Bflat.
Please please, Sixto Rodriguez's Sugar Man, beatiful song. I just love it and I wonder how hard could it be. Thanks!
That film Searching For Sugar Man is awesome!
I can get it sometimes, but i find i'm not isolating the single hole very well when trying the overblow, like i can on normal notes, and am leaking into the others so the sound is sometimes corresponding to those other holes. Any tips?
Thanks again, Liam. But what do you mean by "push through" after you choke the reed? I'm good at choking the reed, but then what? Just keep blowing? Blow harder? Blow softer?
I'm finally getting somewhere by making the sound 'kwee' when I choke the reed. It makes all sorts of squeals and looking at my tuner one of them is the Bb 'overblow'. I've just got to isolate the part of the 'kwee' that makes the right sound! BTW I'm using hole six on a Sugar Cane custom harp.
Derek Garforth Tnx for the idea. I also think certain out-of-the the-box harps are easier to overblow than others. I play Blues Harps.
Generally speaking OOTB harps are not properly set up for OB's, I'm trying on the Sugar Cane key of C and Andrew Zajac key of A. One day, it's becoming an obsession, I WILL overblow....
Derek Garforth So will I!
But that doesn't mean it can't be done on an OOTB harp...I hope...
Does it work on bad harmonicas?
Hi Tan Arthakamol - generally the cheapest harmonicas will be very difficult to overblow but this trick should help a little. If you really want to get into overblows you need to think about investing in something like a Hohner Golden Melody which is a bit easier to overblow. Beyond that, you can customise your harmonica to make the technique easier.
thanks
Good
Hi Liam just starting out I'd love to be able to play Dionne Warwick n Steve wonders that what friends are for, on a c harmonica if you could it would keep me motivated.. thanks colin
Welcome to the world of harmonica! I'll have a listen to the tracks you suggested :)
Now the question is, when I COVER and still just comes a wissing sound , how should I tweak my reed ?
Hi Liam,Very helpful information on the 6 overblow. On my C Harp I was able to push trough that first stage (G Note and then stopping it), but then always end up with the wrong overblow note (Gb Note) instead of Bb where i should have landed. Any idea why?
Hi Tom, thanks for the question. OK, so if you're getting a Gb it could be either of two things:
1. You need to keep pushing lower because you haven't reached the point where the overblow pops out, you're just getting a slightly flat version of the normal 6 blow note which is a G.
2. You could actually be overblowing the 5 blow - are you sure you're on the 6?
Hope that makes sense!
Cheers,
Liam
Pushing through? I run out of air and the note stops. I add more air and it plays again. It doesn’t change pitch. What do you mean, push through?
You have to keep trying to bend the note further (even through it won’t) until the new note appears.
video 'how to tune a harmonica' plz
lol
Here you go :) th-cam.com/video/-KXhyCnN_jo/w-d-xo.html
The secret is out. Now schoolboys everywhere will be overblowing like mad. the cat is out of the bag. no really thanks for the explaination, there is simply no other place to get this secret info. I thank you for the tip.
You're welcome. Brendan Power has just developed a tool called the Overblow Booster, it might interest you because it basically does this 'choking' job I demonstrate in this video, but without having to dismantle the harmonica, so it makes overblows easier. Here's his demo video - maybe comment on his video as he's happy to chat. Say I sent you! th-cam.com/video/XSMVe1wG34I/w-d-xo.html
Why can't someone just teach how to blow and what to do with your mouth?! I don't need an entire history lesson on overblows or how to do it with a screwdriver! Jesus
I think this is bull.... that's just bending the not
Good