This Site Kicks man better than any other source...THX Tinus!!!!

My son and I both learned on the Cracker Barrel models and while I doubt you'll be seeing us on tour in this lifetime, those harps did "spark" an interest and led us on to bigger and better things. There are worse harps out there being marketed as the real deal that are way worse.

If you have a problem with both reeds sounding you could try closing up the blowreeds. It could be that they are open too wide so that the point where the blowreed chokes lies past the point where you can make the drawreed sound. The problem could also be that you loose the choke when you get the drawreed to sound. To practice this you can choke the blowreed without getting the drawreed to sound. the very slowly and softly let the drawreed sound but concentrate on keeping the blowreed choked.

Hey Tinus. I've been toying more with adjusting my harmonica for overblowing. Here is the problem I am running into now:

On some notes on some of my harps, when I play the overblow, the regular blow also sounds. You would think this is a problem with choking the blow reed, but hwen I isolate the blow reed, I can choke it totally fine, and same with isolating the draw reed, (and i can overblow on other notes), what in the setup causes this?

Also, On the overblow on hole one, I can get it if i dont connect my lung air to my throat (just kinda push my tongue forward in a whistle) but not in a sustained blow. How do I adjust these low reeds for overblowing, without compramising their bendability?'

thanks

o no i don't wont to overblow i don't need them
i play easy and bluesy
and i play for my self
i play long with sonny boy
and little walter
and i am happy :))

p.s. i know how to overblow but i don't use
thanks tinus you are wonderful player :))

@Franjo: don't worry if you can't overblow. With time and practice you will get the hang of it, no need to get frustrated.

*** blased sonny boy!
no owerblow for him...

I also found that the Chinese Hohners have good reedplates. Only the coverplates make them sound muffled. The very low black blastic coverplates stop the airflow and make them difficult to play. I am talking about the harps that come in sets of all keys. Piedmont Blues I think. If you have some spare coverplates then a set of these is a steal.

Just a comment on the "$5.00 Cracker Barrel harps". These are every bit good as the Special 20 Hohner. They seem to be the same harp but only available in C . They get people started but they have to buy the Special 20 if they want other keys. It's the upgrading and keys that lets Hohner get their money. Also the Cracker Barrel "Blues Band" is made in China not Germany.

Forget the trial with the ruler, it'sonly a game. If the Blow-Reed doesn't choke it's gap is to wide. But also the width of the Draw-Reed is essential to get an Overblow.

First I must approve that this page is the best free instruction I found which describes how to learn a bend and an overbend, too.
But now I want to add my idea to simplify the chocking of a blow-reed without to open the harmonica or taping the gaps. Because I have only one harp and I don't want to open it everytime to change it's gap-settings.
My idea is to take a plane small ruler and shift it into the harps backside-opening to close the blow-gaps. To improve the gasket of the gap only a Postet can be wrapped around the ruler.
With this additives the learning musican is in the position to close the gaps easy and fast.
(Mac Gyver is greeting)
Only with this help I managed it to get an overblow until now.
But I will continue my attempts...

The problem you are experiencing is probably a mixture of technique, harp setup and understanding.

The note you played in hole 8 wasn't an overblow but a blowbend. As you will notice the pitch goes down when you play that note. Overblows go up in pitch. Also hole 7 cant be overblown but can only be overdrawn.

Take a look at the scalefinder to get a clearer picture of which holes can be overblown and which can be bent.

If you manage to choke the lower blowreeds you are well on your way to play a proper overblow.
In order to overblow you need to set up your harp properly. The harp you are playing is fine, it just needs some minor adjustments. You probably need to set the gaps a little lower.
However it will be difficult for you to judge the right gapping because you have only just started overblowing. To remedy this use some tape to cover the drawnotes on the reedplate. This will isolate the blowreeds (and will stop you from playing an overblow) so that you can get used to the feeling of choking them and can learn the relationship between the gap and the efficiency of the choke. After you set the reeds and have practice the choke take the tape off and put it over the blowreeds. Now you can practice playing the overblow without having to worry about the choke.

hello overblow.com. I am a recent admirer of your website and more so the harp. I've played the guitar for a number of years now and have been waiting for something to bring a little melody to my rythmic style of playing. And after buying my first harmonica and running across your site I'm amazed at the expansive capabilities your technique could add to my small amount of knowledge in this field. So not to waist your time, I have one question at the moment. For two days Ive practiced the overbow tech. and had no results with the low blow notes(cegc). Then thinking I was doing something wrong decided to try with the 8th hole e and it worked imediatly. so knowing I was doing it right began practicing on the other blow notes but can only get the 6th and 7th to choke but not sound. In capping - I can overblow on the 8th and get the 6th and 7th to choke but nothing else will work, do you think Its my technique or the harp that I'm playing (a hohner big river band probably at most $30, it was a gift, but better than the $5 cracker barrel harps.)