Chords for Cleaning tips for Harmonica with Steve Baker
Tempo:
101.5 bpm
Chords used:
Ab
C
F
G
Eb
Tuning:Standard Tuning (EADGBE)Capo:+0fret
Start Jamming...
[Eb]
[B] Harmonica [C] players frequently ask what is the best way to keep [Cm] their instrument clean.
[N] Cleanliness
is very important.
A dirty harmonica is not likely to play well.
So here are some tips
on how to keep it that way.
The first thing to do is to disassemble the harmonica.
After
removing the covers you need to remove the reed plates, if they are screw on reed plates
at least, otherwise this is rather difficult.
I would recommend [Bb] that you [Ab] leave the screws
in the [F] order in which you removed them from the instrument so [A] that you can put them back
in the [N] same holes when you reassemble the instrument.
The first thing that I do is I
lay the reed [C] plates with the reeds [Ab] upwards in
[N] warm water to which I've added perhaps
a bit of vinegar or lemon juice.
Then I will clean [F] the comb, scraping with the tip of the
reed lifting tool between the [G] teeth of the comb to [C] remove any deposits of dried saliva
and such.
These wooden combs you can if they are sealed use water but I prefer to avoid
that.
A dry toothbrush is quite a good tool [C] for cleaning the crud off the harmonica comb.
[Fm]
The covers [N] you can wash under the tap and dry them off with a soft cloth or with a tea
towel or something like that, removing all the unsavoury matter that's collected on the
insides.
When the reed plates have soaked for perhaps half an hour, something like that,
you can very carefully clean them off using a soft toothbrush.
I do this, I actually brush
very gently along the reeds from the rivet to the tip, never in the other direction and
never across the [G] reed.
The other side of the plate you can [Fm] actually clean quite vigorously
with the toothbrush.
[F]
Clean it off, [A] run it under the tap, don't use hot water but you
can certainly use [F] warm water and [Ab] dab it dry very carefully, gently like [Cm] that.
[C] Then you
can reassemble the harmonica.
I would advise checking the individual [F] reeds through, plucking
them [B] with the reed lifting blade to ensure [G] that they're all working before you put it
back together.
[Ab] And then you can reassemble the instrument.
When you reassemble your harmonica
and screw the reed plates back [Db] on, it is extremely important to tighten the screws in order.
[Ab] I start in the middle and then tighten the outer screws and I [N] don't tighten them fully,
I tighten them so that they just start to bite, just like this point here, where they're
just turning very gently against the first resistance.
I do the same here and the same
here.
And then [Ab] I will turn just a fraction more, but really only just [Db] maybe a sixteenth
of a turn, very, very little, just so that there [Ab] is resistance, no tighter than that.
If you over-tighten the reed plate screws then you will cause waves to form because
this will get pushed down, this will get pushed down, this will get pushed down, [F] this will
damage the air tightness, it will [N] reduce the air tightness.
So don't over-tighten the reed
plate screws.
You can tighten the cover screws fairly tight, that's not so important, and
of course you don't want the instrument to fall apart, [Ab] but be very careful [Db] to what extent
you tighten.
[G]
[E] Another thing that will [C] prevent your harmonica from accumulating too much
[N] dirt is to try to avoid playing it too wet and to always tap it out into the palm of
your hand each time you played it.
It will also help if you don't try to play too loudly
using too much breath pressure as this will also bring more moisture into your instrument.
If you follow these simple tips you'll find that you can keep your harmonica clean and
it will play better and longer if you do so.
With the chromatic harmonica I would like
to recommend to you the [C] series of Hohner service videos which can be seen for free
[N] on the website www.playhohner.com. All of the information in these videos pertaining to
tuning, offsetting and reed alignment is also applicable [Ab] to diatonic [G] harmonicas so I would
warmly recommend you to take a look at this series of videos for further
[F] [Ab] [F]
[C] advice.
[Eb] [D] [Ebm] [C]
[Fm] [Eb]
[B] Harmonica [C] players frequently ask what is the best way to keep [Cm] their instrument clean.
[N] Cleanliness
is very important.
A dirty harmonica is not likely to play well.
So here are some tips
on how to keep it that way.
The first thing to do is to disassemble the harmonica.
After
removing the covers you need to remove the reed plates, if they are screw on reed plates
at least, otherwise this is rather difficult.
I would recommend [Bb] that you [Ab] leave the screws
in the [F] order in which you removed them from the instrument so [A] that you can put them back
in the [N] same holes when you reassemble the instrument.
The first thing that I do is I
lay the reed [C] plates with the reeds [Ab] upwards in
[N] warm water to which I've added perhaps
a bit of vinegar or lemon juice.
Then I will clean [F] the comb, scraping with the tip of the
reed lifting tool between the [G] teeth of the comb to [C] remove any deposits of dried saliva
and such.
These wooden combs you can if they are sealed use water but I prefer to avoid
that.
A dry toothbrush is quite a good tool [C] for cleaning the crud off the harmonica comb.
[Fm]
The covers [N] you can wash under the tap and dry them off with a soft cloth or with a tea
towel or something like that, removing all the unsavoury matter that's collected on the
insides.
When the reed plates have soaked for perhaps half an hour, something like that,
you can very carefully clean them off using a soft toothbrush.
I do this, I actually brush
very gently along the reeds from the rivet to the tip, never in the other direction and
never across the [G] reed.
The other side of the plate you can [Fm] actually clean quite vigorously
with the toothbrush.
[F]
Clean it off, [A] run it under the tap, don't use hot water but you
can certainly use [F] warm water and [Ab] dab it dry very carefully, gently like [Cm] that.
[C] Then you
can reassemble the harmonica.
I would advise checking the individual [F] reeds through, plucking
them [B] with the reed lifting blade to ensure [G] that they're all working before you put it
back together.
[Ab] And then you can reassemble the instrument.
When you reassemble your harmonica
and screw the reed plates back [Db] on, it is extremely important to tighten the screws in order.
[Ab] I start in the middle and then tighten the outer screws and I [N] don't tighten them fully,
I tighten them so that they just start to bite, just like this point here, where they're
just turning very gently against the first resistance.
I do the same here and the same
here.
And then [Ab] I will turn just a fraction more, but really only just [Db] maybe a sixteenth
of a turn, very, very little, just so that there [Ab] is resistance, no tighter than that.
If you over-tighten the reed plate screws then you will cause waves to form because
this will get pushed down, this will get pushed down, this will get pushed down, [F] this will
damage the air tightness, it will [N] reduce the air tightness.
So don't over-tighten the reed
plate screws.
You can tighten the cover screws fairly tight, that's not so important, and
of course you don't want the instrument to fall apart, [Ab] but be very careful [Db] to what extent
you tighten.
[G]
[E] Another thing that will [C] prevent your harmonica from accumulating too much
[N] dirt is to try to avoid playing it too wet and to always tap it out into the palm of
your hand each time you played it.
It will also help if you don't try to play too loudly
using too much breath pressure as this will also bring more moisture into your instrument.
If you follow these simple tips you'll find that you can keep your harmonica clean and
it will play better and longer if you do so.
With the chromatic harmonica I would like
to recommend to you the [C] series of Hohner service videos which can be seen for free
[N] on the website www.playhohner.com. All of the information in these videos pertaining to
tuning, offsetting and reed alignment is also applicable [Ab] to diatonic [G] harmonicas so I would
warmly recommend you to take a look at this series of videos for further
[F] [Ab] [F]
[C] advice.
[Eb] [D] [Ebm] [C]
[Fm] [Eb]
Key:
Ab
C
F
G
Eb
Ab
C
F
_ _ _ _ _ _ [Eb] _ _
_ _ [B] _ Harmonica [C] players frequently ask what is the best way to keep [Cm] their instrument clean.
[N] Cleanliness
is very important.
A dirty harmonica is not likely to play well.
So here are some tips
on how to keep it that way. _ _ _
The first thing to do is to disassemble the harmonica.
After
removing the covers you need to remove the reed plates, if they are screw on reed plates
at least, otherwise this is rather difficult.
I would recommend [Bb] that you [Ab] leave the screws
in the [F] order in which you removed them from the instrument so [A] that you can put them back
in the [N] same holes when you reassemble the instrument. _ _
The first thing that I do is I
lay the reed [C] plates with the reeds [Ab] upwards in _
[N] warm water to which I've added perhaps
a bit of vinegar or lemon juice.
_ _ Then I will clean [F] the comb, _ scraping with the tip of the
reed lifting tool between the [G] teeth of the comb to _ _ [C] remove any deposits of dried saliva
and such.
_ _ _ _ _ These wooden combs you can if they are sealed use water but I prefer to avoid
that.
A dry toothbrush is quite a good tool [C] _ _ for cleaning the crud off the harmonica comb.
_ _ _ [Fm]
The covers [N] you can wash under the tap and dry them off with a soft cloth or with a tea
towel or something like that, removing all the unsavoury matter that's collected on the
insides.
When the reed plates have soaked for perhaps half an hour, something like that,
you can very carefully clean them off using a soft toothbrush.
I do this, I actually brush
very gently along the reeds from the rivet to the tip, never in the other direction and
never across the [G] reed.
_ The other side of the plate you can [Fm] actually clean quite vigorously
with the toothbrush.
_ [F] _ _
Clean it off, [A] run it under the tap, don't use hot water but you
can certainly use [F] warm water _ and [Ab] dab it dry very carefully, gently like [Cm] that. _ _
_ [C] Then you
can reassemble the harmonica.
I would advise checking the individual [F] reeds through, plucking
them [B] with the reed lifting blade to ensure [G] that they're all working before you put it
back together.
[Ab] And then you can reassemble the instrument.
When you reassemble your harmonica
and screw the reed plates back [Db] on, it is extremely important to tighten the screws in order.
[Ab] I start in the middle and then tighten the outer screws and I [N] don't tighten them fully,
I tighten them so that they just start to bite, just like _ _ _ _ this point here, where they're
just turning very gently against the first resistance.
I do the same here and the same
here. _ _
_ _ _ And then [Ab] I will turn just a fraction more, but really _ only just [Db] maybe a sixteenth
of a turn, very, very little, just so that there [Ab] is resistance, no tighter than that.
If you over-tighten the reed plate screws then you will _ cause waves to form because
this will get pushed down, this will get pushed down, this will get pushed down, [F] this will
damage the air tightness, it will [N] reduce the air tightness.
So don't over-tighten the reed
plate screws.
You can tighten the cover screws fairly tight, that's not so important, and
of course you don't want the instrument to fall apart, [Ab] but be very careful [Db] to what extent
you tighten. _ _ _
_ [G] _ _ _ _ _ _ _
[E] Another thing that will [C] prevent your harmonica from accumulating too much
[N] dirt is to try to avoid playing it too wet and to always tap it out into the palm of
your hand each time you played it.
It will also help if you don't try to play too loudly
using too much breath pressure as this will also bring more moisture into your instrument.
If you follow these simple tips you'll find that you can keep your harmonica clean and
it will play better and longer if you do so.
_ With the chromatic harmonica I would like
to recommend to you the [C] series of Hohner service videos which can be seen for free
[N] on the website www.playhohner.com. _ All of the information in these videos pertaining to
tuning, offsetting and reed alignment is also applicable [Ab] to diatonic [G] harmonicas so I would
warmly recommend you to take a look at this series of videos for further _
[F] _ _ _ _ [Ab] _ _ [F] _ _
_ [C] _ advice. _ _ _ _
_ _ [Eb] _ _ [D] _ _ [Ebm] _ [C] _
_ [Fm] _ _ _ _ _ [Eb] _ _
_ _ [B] _ Harmonica [C] players frequently ask what is the best way to keep [Cm] their instrument clean.
[N] Cleanliness
is very important.
A dirty harmonica is not likely to play well.
So here are some tips
on how to keep it that way. _ _ _
The first thing to do is to disassemble the harmonica.
After
removing the covers you need to remove the reed plates, if they are screw on reed plates
at least, otherwise this is rather difficult.
I would recommend [Bb] that you [Ab] leave the screws
in the [F] order in which you removed them from the instrument so [A] that you can put them back
in the [N] same holes when you reassemble the instrument. _ _
The first thing that I do is I
lay the reed [C] plates with the reeds [Ab] upwards in _
[N] warm water to which I've added perhaps
a bit of vinegar or lemon juice.
_ _ Then I will clean [F] the comb, _ scraping with the tip of the
reed lifting tool between the [G] teeth of the comb to _ _ [C] remove any deposits of dried saliva
and such.
_ _ _ _ _ These wooden combs you can if they are sealed use water but I prefer to avoid
that.
A dry toothbrush is quite a good tool [C] _ _ for cleaning the crud off the harmonica comb.
_ _ _ [Fm]
The covers [N] you can wash under the tap and dry them off with a soft cloth or with a tea
towel or something like that, removing all the unsavoury matter that's collected on the
insides.
When the reed plates have soaked for perhaps half an hour, something like that,
you can very carefully clean them off using a soft toothbrush.
I do this, I actually brush
very gently along the reeds from the rivet to the tip, never in the other direction and
never across the [G] reed.
_ The other side of the plate you can [Fm] actually clean quite vigorously
with the toothbrush.
_ [F] _ _
Clean it off, [A] run it under the tap, don't use hot water but you
can certainly use [F] warm water _ and [Ab] dab it dry very carefully, gently like [Cm] that. _ _
_ [C] Then you
can reassemble the harmonica.
I would advise checking the individual [F] reeds through, plucking
them [B] with the reed lifting blade to ensure [G] that they're all working before you put it
back together.
[Ab] And then you can reassemble the instrument.
When you reassemble your harmonica
and screw the reed plates back [Db] on, it is extremely important to tighten the screws in order.
[Ab] I start in the middle and then tighten the outer screws and I [N] don't tighten them fully,
I tighten them so that they just start to bite, just like _ _ _ _ this point here, where they're
just turning very gently against the first resistance.
I do the same here and the same
here. _ _
_ _ _ And then [Ab] I will turn just a fraction more, but really _ only just [Db] maybe a sixteenth
of a turn, very, very little, just so that there [Ab] is resistance, no tighter than that.
If you over-tighten the reed plate screws then you will _ cause waves to form because
this will get pushed down, this will get pushed down, this will get pushed down, [F] this will
damage the air tightness, it will [N] reduce the air tightness.
So don't over-tighten the reed
plate screws.
You can tighten the cover screws fairly tight, that's not so important, and
of course you don't want the instrument to fall apart, [Ab] but be very careful [Db] to what extent
you tighten. _ _ _
_ [G] _ _ _ _ _ _ _
[E] Another thing that will [C] prevent your harmonica from accumulating too much
[N] dirt is to try to avoid playing it too wet and to always tap it out into the palm of
your hand each time you played it.
It will also help if you don't try to play too loudly
using too much breath pressure as this will also bring more moisture into your instrument.
If you follow these simple tips you'll find that you can keep your harmonica clean and
it will play better and longer if you do so.
_ With the chromatic harmonica I would like
to recommend to you the [C] series of Hohner service videos which can be seen for free
[N] on the website www.playhohner.com. _ All of the information in these videos pertaining to
tuning, offsetting and reed alignment is also applicable [Ab] to diatonic [G] harmonicas so I would
warmly recommend you to take a look at this series of videos for further _
[F] _ _ _ _ [Ab] _ _ [F] _ _
_ [C] _ advice. _ _ _ _
_ _ [Eb] _ _ [D] _ _ [Ebm] _ [C] _
_ [Fm] _ _ _ _ _ [Eb] _ _