I agree with you....been using the Korg CA-30 to check the various notes in each bend. Works especially good on the (4) different notes in the 3 draw. About 10-15 minutes per day, then within a short time you can hit the bent notes without havin to start it unbent. Brian Purdy of Harpgear.com (maker of fantastic amps and a great harp teacher) told me about using the chromatic tuner, and it was useful advice. He recommended staying on holes 1,2, & 3 exclusively for (3) weeks, not playing any other holes. Then in the fourth week, include the 4 hole. I tried it, and my playing improved in every aspect, not just in bending notes. I still include some exclusive time on the 1,2,3, & 4 holes daily.
Or if you don't have a lot of different keyed harps, you can invest in a 'pitch pipe' like the Kratt Master Key Chromatic Pitch Instrument. Only costs around $15, and it has all 12 notes in the scale. It may not be the same octave of the bent note, but it'll give you the right sound, so you at least have an idea how the bend should sound.
The Bendometer mentioned above is a handy tool, but do know that its performance depends on how good the mic is attached to your computer, and how much ambient sound there is in the room. Plus, you have to have an active net connection to launch it.
A good multipurpose tool is an electronic chromatic tuner, like the Korg CA-30. Under $20 pretty much anywhere, it's small, portable, multipurpose (functions as a guitar/base tuner -- pretty much any instrument), and responds really fast. It shows you both the note it's detecting, and how close it is to being the right pitch. This has become my tool of choice for seeing how I'm doing with a bend. I have good relative pitch, nowhere near perfect pitch, so the chromatic tuner is very handy to see how I'm doing if I'm starting with the bent note instead of moving to it from an unbent one.
If you have some harps, it's the best way I think, it's much easier to nail those bends down if you can hear exactly (on your other harp) what your aiming for.....
Also (what works better for me) is, if you have several harmonicas, you'll be able to compare with the actual sound you're looking for.. for example, the 3 draw bend (full step) on a C harmonica is the same as the 4 blow on a G harmonica. So playing around with several harps will sharpen you up..... Check Jon's R'n B book/cd for all the notes/keys.....
There is a site you have to check out: harpsoft.com They have a free trial download software called a bend-o-meter. It has an image of a harp. You play into your PC mic and it shows, on screen, how far down your bending the note in real time. Way cool! you can check it out for free. Then buy it if you like it. There is a tab section that shows what note to play next on selected straight harp songs. Kind of like follow the bouncing ball.
A friend of mine is a Pastor. He once told me about rooming with a famous Gospel singer for a week. I asked him what it was like. He said he hated it. Every morning this guy would sing the scale, do, ray, me... for an hour or more. Next day, same thing. I think it would bother me to listen to it, but not if I was the one doing it. The one your talking about is a good one Dutch. 1B, 1D, 2B. I guess because you can visualize or hear the note in your head before you play it. Makes it easy to tell if you get get the bend down to the right level. I wonder if any of the harmonica "masters" do scale drills? Michael
Congrats! Now try doing : do re mi fa sol la si do, on you harp 1B 1D 2B 2D** 2D 3D** 3D 4B (2D** means bending the 2Draw (sol) down a full note to "fa") Going back and forth between 1B and 4B is a great excercise and makes it easier to check if your bend is correct (opposed to a halve bend * or 1 and 1/2 bend ***) Way to go Leon (I also got my first real good bend when I was NOT trying hard...)
First harp I ever bought was from cracker barrel. Unfolded that little rice paper insert and spent a full week learning "O When the Saint go marching in". Your SP20 is a much better harp. Congrats on your first bends, you'r hooked now. Michael
Earleir today, I ran across the Hohner Bluesband Harp that I bought for my grandaughter. It was sitting under some papers on the coffeetable when I saw it. I was really just checking to make sure it was not one of my harps. I picked it up and just started to play a little. (I have only played straight harp, just learning to bluesify) I tried a few bends on the Good Morning Riff and to my amazement, the reeds bent. I was by myself, but looked around to see if anyone heard it. Figureing it was just a accident, I tried some more and was able to repeat the bends. I then proceeded to try it on my SP20 and it worked even better..........I guess I was just relaxed and comfortable with no great expectation when I made this discovery. What a great contribution from a five dollar harmonica purchased at a Cracker Barrel Restaruant. Just wanted to share my experience, maybe someone else can benefit.
