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Want to Try Overblows?
If you are a more advanced harmonica player you might want to try to do some overblows. Overblows raise the pitch instead of lowering the pitch (like bending a note does). Don't confuse overblows with blow bends. I played for many years before I ever heard of such a thing as an overblow, and then they seemed so impossible I didn't even try. I finally saw some youtube videos and started to figure it out. After several weeks I could do them and now I use them frequently when I play --even in front of other people! For Blues you are mainly going to find the overblows on the 5 and 6 blow to be the most useful, and fortunately they are also the easiest!
In order to do overblows a harmonica must be set up right. There are professionally set up harps out there that sell for serious money, about $200 each for a little diatonic! But you do not need to spend that much. You definitely need a good harp to do overblows, and the better the harp the easier overblows are. Unless you want to adjust the reeds yourselves, I recommend certain models. The SEYDEL 1847 overblows easily, as does the Seydel Soloist Pro. I first learned to do them on the SUZUKI PURE HARP, which is great for this, and so is the SUZUKI FIREBREATH. Seydel Favorites, Hohner Meisterklasse, and Suzuki Pro Harps also overblow pretty easily. I have recently tried the Suzuki MANJI and the new Hohner CROSSIVER and these have also proved good for overblows. Also keep in mind overblows are easier on harps in the keys from A up through D. A harp in C is a good place to start.
Mid range harps can be adjusted for overblows. If you want to try adjusting a more modestly priced harmonica yourself in order to try overblows, I suggest a Seydel Soloist, Hohner Marine Band or Golden Melody, a Seydel Session, a Hering Blues 20 or Black Blues, a Suzuki Bluesmaster. I have not found the Special 20s to be that great for overblows and Lee Oskars are not that easy to overblow on, but some players have adjusted them successfully and use them that way. To adjust a mid range harp to overblow, set the gap between the reed and reedplate very close on the draw reeds for the holes you want to overblow on. Yes, adjust the draw reeds for overblows! Again, try the 5 and 6 holes. The draw reeds are on the outside of the reedplate when you take off the reed covers. When you overblow it is actually the corresponding draw reed that vibrates, even though you are overblowing. If you set the gap too close the reed will note play at all when you draw on it, and so and you will need to back off and open it up a little. Be careful --you can ruin a reed doing this! I have found cheaper harps are much harder to adjust this way and you may not be able to adjust them to overblow at all. You generally get what you pay for when you buy a harmonica.
I hope this helps a bit and enables you to progress in your playing! Again, please click on the button that says this was helpful.
In order to do overblows a harmonica must be set up right. There are professionally set up harps out there that sell for serious money, about $200 each for a little diatonic! But you do not need to spend that much. You definitely need a good harp to do overblows, and the better the harp the easier overblows are. Unless you want to adjust the reeds yourselves, I recommend certain models. The SEYDEL 1847 overblows easily, as does the Seydel Soloist Pro. I first learned to do them on the SUZUKI PURE HARP, which is great for this, and so is the SUZUKI FIREBREATH. Seydel Favorites, Hohner Meisterklasse, and Suzuki Pro Harps also overblow pretty easily. I have recently tried the Suzuki MANJI and the new Hohner CROSSIVER and these have also proved good for overblows. Also keep in mind overblows are easier on harps in the keys from A up through D. A harp in C is a good place to start.
Mid range harps can be adjusted for overblows. If you want to try adjusting a more modestly priced harmonica yourself in order to try overblows, I suggest a Seydel Soloist, Hohner Marine Band or Golden Melody, a Seydel Session, a Hering Blues 20 or Black Blues, a Suzuki Bluesmaster. I have not found the Special 20s to be that great for overblows and Lee Oskars are not that easy to overblow on, but some players have adjusted them successfully and use them that way. To adjust a mid range harp to overblow, set the gap between the reed and reedplate very close on the draw reeds for the holes you want to overblow on. Yes, adjust the draw reeds for overblows! Again, try the 5 and 6 holes. The draw reeds are on the outside of the reedplate when you take off the reed covers. When you overblow it is actually the corresponding draw reed that vibrates, even though you are overblowing. If you set the gap too close the reed will note play at all when you draw on it, and so and you will need to back off and open it up a little. Be careful --you can ruin a reed doing this! I have found cheaper harps are much harder to adjust this way and you may not be able to adjust them to overblow at all. You generally get what you pay for when you buy a harmonica.
I hope this helps a bit and enables you to progress in your playing! Again, please click on the button that says this was helpful.
Guide created: 04/21/09 (updated 11/14/09)
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