Harmonica Phenomena

Well, here I am, five months down the road. The harmonica is now indispensable to my ukulele act. My kazoo has, at long last, been relegated to playing songs that simply won't fit on a diatonic harmonica scale (like Dream A Little Dream Of Me). I also have acquired a bunch of new songs, thanks to the harp (like Love Me Do, for one).

I think I found an answer to my previous question about whether the harmonica was positively impacting my voice in some way. I'm certain that the harmonica exercises the mouth and throat muscles, and that has to be of great benefit to the voicebox. 

But, that's only a partial answer. I found another piece of the puzzle written in one of the little pamphlets that comes with a new Hohner harp. 

In it is a quotation from John Phillips Sousa,  the march king; "The harmonica trains the musician's ear, the most important training in any musician's life." 

How very insightful of Sousa! My vocal control was improving, as I instinctively knew, but that control was an indirect benefit because of the subtleties that I could now hear!  

I recently got a handle on using the glottal vibrato technique John teaches in his lesson, which is very cool! As with vocal or instrumental vibratos, it's a difficult thing to master. But, perseverance eventually started to pay off.

What's next? I have my sights set on trying to master playing a song or two with harmonica and guitar. So, last night, I started studying John Hammond's Homespun Lesson. I hope I can get a handle on Just Your Fool (Little Walter) and Honest I Do (Jimmy Reed). Ironically, the harmonica for these two songs is not really going to be much of a problem. John's right hand is the biggest hurdle. 

Cheers, 

Jimmy J

I ukulele, daily.

Well, Folks, here it is nearly a month later. 

So far, I've managed to add a harmonica line to eight songs from my repertoire. A couple of them are pretty jazzy and complex, and it took a bit of time to work them out and then, you know, work them in. (Fly Me To The Moon (In Other Words) and The Nearness Of You.) So, I'm pleased with my progress. And, best of all, busking revenue is up! People really respond to harmonica! 

Some songs (Dream A Little Dream Of Me, and Star Dust) just won't work on a diatonic harmonica, alas.

But, getting back to this vocal phenomena, I have some exciting news. Well, maybe it's not news, but more like a working theory. I started noticing that my voice was sounding more 'powerful and edgier' than normal. At first, I thought I'm just a bit hoarse from busking eight days a week. But I've been maintaining this pace for years. 

So now, I'm hypothesizing that all this harmonica practicing and playing gives my mouth, throat, and larynx muscles a real good workout. That would tend to explain why I started noticing my voice sounding 'thick' as I posted back on April 18. I'm now thinking that all the exercise from practicing an playing harmonica has made my voice much stronger. And, I notice I seem to have a lot more control and finesse over my use of vibrato and phrasing. Does that make any sense to anyone? 

It sure seems to be the case to me. I'm still waiting to hear what 'the daydreaming boy' might have to say.

Cheers, 

Jimmy J

Thanks Happy,

I'm relieved to hear I'm not the only one that's noticed the phenomica harmonema.  

The effect of the harp on my voice seems to be lessening with practice and playing. Perhaps I am not straining my throat and tongue and mouth muscles as much, now that I'm getting more practiced at it?

I'm very pleased about acquiring this new musical skill. I plan to add as much diatonic harp as I can onto my two-hour plus repertoire of jazz and tin pan alley. I'm a transit system busker, and the response from passersby is very encouraging. Adding harmonica is a very good move for me! 

I'd love to hear what the daydreamin' boy has to say, and tell him I said, "Thanks, Teach!"

Cheers, 

Jimmy J

I ukulele, daily.

I always thought my voice sounded better after blowing a harp - not that I'm a particularly good player. I agree that something happens but I always attributed it to better air production as a result of the pressure against the reeds. I'll see if Sebastian has anything to say about this.

I was thinking today that maybe it has something to do with lowered oxygen levels, due to the demands of playing the harp with stored air?

Hey Gang,

I recently added harmonica, played on a rack, to my bag of tricks. 

I studied with John Sebastian's harmonica lesson, and I'm still working with it. It's a very good lesson, and I can recommend it.

I've noticed a strange phenomena, and I wonder if some bright light just might have an explanation for me. 

When I finish a harmonica break, and then immediately start singing again, my voice feels and sounds a bit weird. It seems kind of 'thick,' if that makes any sense to anybody. And it takes a few seconds until it goes back to normal. 

Are the vibrations produced by sounding the reeds in the harp being absorbed my mouth, throat, and larynx? Is that's what's causing this mysterious sensation?

Cheers!