Reply To: Tuning and Gapping Hammond Bass melodica

Generally speaking, as you move from lower notes to higher notes on any melodica (alto, soprano), bending becomes harder using the “hard blowing” technique. You can try accelerating and deaccelerating the melodica abruptly as you bend a note. You can also try moving the melodica quickly away from or towards the mic, or passing it across the mic quickly, to maybe add some doppler effect.

I use these techniques quite often, and while I cannot speak to the true effectiveness, it is my belief based on what I hear that they can accentuate the note bending process and provide other subtle tonal changes. They certainly add a visual element for the audience to consider. The audience can “see” you bending the note. Hence the audience may perceive the bend to be greater than it actually is.

Lowboy