Archives for October 2006
27 October 2006
New at Harponline - Label Set
There is no harmonica that allows the player to read the key labelling from all sides.
However, for a busy player nothing is more important than being able to switch from one key to another as quickly as possible.
This tool remedies that.
The set includes:
# 2 sheets of 462 stickers, one in black and one in white letters
# 1 pair of tweezers
Available in the shop >>>here
16 October 2006
Notes cannot be heard at all when blown or drawn
This is mostly a question of reed gap, but not in all cases. The reed
gap is a complex problem, generally a note should sound [become audible]
straight away, whether it is started with a sudden attack [blown strong and
sharply], or played very softly. However, for mechanical reasons this is not
16 October 2006
How does moving with channel 4 and 5 (with the C) work?
An Australian recently enquired about this topic and told me he’d
read a very comprehensive ‘book of guidelines’ dealing with the matter of
when and where best to use the upper or lower C. He added that after
reading the book, the problem
16 October 2006
How many valve defects are there and what are the remedies?
1. Sticking valves:
If a humid valve is not lifted from the reedplate and
allowed to dry, it will glue itself to the plate.
Remedy: As previously explained, move the drawing (or inhaling) reeds
briefly up and down. Why only the drawing reeds? Because these valve sit
16 October 2006
How do I practice, while caring for the valves?
Above all, never play immediately after a meal. Even cleaning your teeth
Does not prevent saliva from flowing and for some time after a meal
sugar is still present inside your mouth. Sugar is absolute poison for
16 October 2006
How does one tune notes that have become deeper?
Don’t do it!
Notes that have become deeper (providing they are in tune
with each other) are usually about to break, they must be exchanged.
16 October 2006
I feel I’m in a hole and cannot get ahead on the harmonica
I ask myself the very same question, even today! “What am I actually
practicing for!” I ask myself, “What am I trying to achieve?”
When such nonsense comes into my head I remind myself, “It’s okay, it’ll
soon pass.” If it doesn’t, I put the harp away for two or three days, or
until my enthusiasm returns.
Mind you, it could be that you are asking too much of yourself, perhaps you
are being too impatient… Go ahead, keep trying, the harp is worth it!”
14 October 2006
What does one do AFTER playing with the chrome?
At the end of your practice session you can remove moisture by tapping
the instrument very gently on the palm of your hand - and I stress ‘very
gently’. However, I personally would never do that, it can
12 October 2006
How should I treat my Chrome BEFORE playing?
A few minutes before walking on stage, bring the instrument to
approximately your own body temperature by placing it under your armpit,
then place it in your breast pocket. (Caution, the breast pocket must
always be absolutely clean, be sure to remove any dirt
9 October 2006
New Harponline starts to become reality
This should have happened long ago, however, better late than never.
Harponline has left its old home at Tony Ramos’ web-base harp-online.com and
for some time has been available at
www.harponline.de/index.php
Admittedly, to some extent it is still incomplete, it would have been been
ready some time ago, but there’s a huge demand for spare parts, which of
course keeps us from the continuous work required in preparing the pages.
“But what better could I wish for?” remarkes
very sincerly
yours
Michael Timler from Harponline.
9 October 2006
Philosophy from every day life
Again and again requests come in for the ultimate harp, the loudest with most splendid sound…
That’s a perfectly normal reaction, however, just so long as you understand that 90% of the sound is created by the player’s throat-space and that differs from player to player.
Therefore it’s not easy to give a confident, reliable answer without harping on the the economics to be considered.
No pun intended 
To tell the truth, first of all a harp must feel comfortable in your mouth and then the rest is simply practise, practise and more practises…..