Comment by Stratoscope 8 days ago
> Lower notes are generally easier to bend than higher notes
One thing to note (pun intended) is that you can only bend the higher of the two notes in a hole. On the lower half of the harmonica, those are the draw notes. But the upper octave switches these around. The blow notes are the higher ones there, and those are the ones you can bend.
> you can only bend the higher of the two notes in a hole
Do you know why that is?
I tried to look this up but wasn't successful. I remember it has to do with the lower pitch reed starting to vibrate along with the higher pitch reed, pulling the two notes together. But I don't quite understand the physics behind it.
If anyone find this, I am all ears! (Figurately and literally.)
While searching, I did run across this wonderful video of Toots Thielemans and Elis Regina:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=909HG10GLhE
And completely off topic, that somehow reminded me of my favorite live version of Ride Like the Wind:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYofDL0QnBE
No harmonica there, but everyone was having so much fun together!
> you can only bend the higher of the two notes in a hole
This only holds true if you don't count overbending.
Overbending works by forcing the "wrong" reed to play, e.g. forcing the draw reed to sound when you blow while the blow reed remains silent. Overbends nicely complement normal bends, but interestingly, overbends are a half-step higher than the highest reed in the hole.