I love seeing projects that shed a little vignette on a wide world I had no idea about! Thanks for posting!
Thanks so much — that means a lot!
Show HN: Let’s Bend – Open-Source Harmonica Bending Trainer
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Re: Show HN: Let’s Bend – Open-Source Harmonica Bending Trainer
#22Earlier quoted context omitted.
> Lower notes are generally easier to bend than higher notes One thing to note (pun intended) is that you can only bend the higher of the two notes in a hole. On the lower half of the harmonica, those are the draw notes. But the upper octave switches these around. The blow notes are the higher ones there, and those are the ones you can bend.
> you can only bend the higher of the two notes in a hole Do you know why that is?
I tried to look this up but wasn't successful. I remember it has to do with the lower pitch reed starting to vibrate along with the higher pitch reed, pulling the two notes together. But I don't quite understand the physics behind it.
If anyone find this, I am all ears! (Figurately and literally.)
While searching, I did run across this wonderful video of Toots Thielemans and Elis Regina:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=909HG10GLhE
And completely off topic, that somehow reminded me of my favorite live version of Ride Like the Wind:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYofDL0QnBE
No harmonica there, but everyone was having so much fun together!
Re: Show HN: Let’s Bend – Open-Source Harmonica Bending Trainer
#23This is great. Would have loved it when I used to have fun with the harmonica. Here is a suggestion. Display a graph of played-frequency vs time. Then I can compare visually how my bending performance improves over time.
Thanks — great to hear you liked it, and that’s a really smart suggestion!
Actually, you've inspired a related idea I’ve been thinking about: since the app already shows a magnified pitch view for each target note, I could track how accurately each target is hit — not over time, but per note. That means collecting cent-deviation stats every time a target pitch is active.
For example, if you’re working on bending hole 3 draw down to F#, the app could keep track of: - how many times that target was attempted, - your average deviation (in cents), - and your best attempt so far.
It’s not a full frequency-vs-time graph, but it's very focused feedback — and could motivate practice in a very concrete way. I’d love to make this part of a future version. Thanks again for the spark!
Re: Show HN: Let’s Bend – Open-Source Harmonica Bending Trainer
#24This is very nice, thank you for creating it. I have a few suggestions, but they will have to wait until later this week. I see an email address on the Imprint page on your website - is that the best way to reach you? Somewhat related, for any harmonica player who likes to play cross harp for that bluesy sound, and wants to branch out into songs written in a major or natural minor key (e.g. much pop/rock/country), le…
Very interesting! I've played harp casually all my life without ever really learning about alternate tunings. The Melody Maker sounds like it would open some nifty possibilities! Someone bought me a chromatic harp once as a gift and I could never figure out how to play it properly. It's funny though, because as a piano and guitar player I never thought about what I was doing. I just play a cheap blues band or marine…
That is so cool that you discovered those alternate positions!
Yes, "cross harp" is also known as second position. I have never explored the other positions as you have. There is so much to experiment with.
If you ever want to try the Melody Maker tuning, I would pick a song you want to play and get one in that key. I mentioned Dreams (A minor / High F Melody Maker) and You Make Loving Fun (Bb Melody Maker) for the female vocal parts.
Another one I have fun with is Wagon Wheel (the Darius Rucker version). It's in A Major, and yes, Lee Oskar does have an off the shelf Melody Maker in that key.
I do the fiddle part, which was quite a challenge to learn! And the organ part, which is much easier.
I can read music, slowly, but mostly I learn by ear. I used a site called Karaoke Version:
https://www.karaoke-version.com/
This site lets you create your own mix of instruments and vocals for any song.
First I made a mix with everything included, so I could play along with the fiddle and organ parts.
Once I had it down, I made a second mix with fiddle and organ dropped out so I could play those parts on my own. It still included the vocals.
Unfortunately, Karaoke Version later replaced the track with a much inferior version. I have no idea why! If anyone wants the two mixes I worked with (the one including fiddle and organ, and the one without), ping me and I can send them to you on the sly.
Re: Show HN: Let’s Bend – Open-Source Harmonica Bending Trainer
#25Harp player here. When I first started playing, I had a Gindick's book, Country and Blues Harmonica For the Musically Hopeless. This was maybe 35 years ago. I would recommend that book and the tape (cd? mp3?) that comes with it, for beginners. You can't see the notes you are playing on a harmonica. You have to hear them. You start by playing clear single notes and then shaping the note by articulating eeeh-yah or som…
I also learned from that book + tape about 30 years ago. I also have to strongly agree with this. It's quite different from learning stringed instruments. I'm sure it has a lot in common with some brass instruments, but either way, seeing doesn't help. Hearing and feeling is everything. That also makes it easier than most to learn via cassette tape! :) The app seems neat, but focused on precision in bending. Precisio…
Some things are better learned organically. Lots of things actually.
Re: Show HN: Let’s Bend – Open-Source Harmonica Bending Trainer
#26First thought I had - I never thought that one can bend harmonica (I used to play it as a child and found it quite impossible). Since that time I have no usable harmonica in my home. Another thought I had - I'll test it on learning violin vibrato.
And when I tried it - WOW! This software has very good responsiveness and those rectangles show tune in really clear way. It turns playing musical instrument into some sort of game which objective is "just keep in the middle of all squares". I've just used it to exercise violin piece and it's really helpful in showing me when I'm playing out of tune.
Great help! Thanks!
Could you please add 'no-screen-fadeoff' patch on android? It seems that I have to manually wake up phone every few seconds (depends on phone settings). Also manipulating scale to show lower G would be terrific, however I understand this is not intended for violin playing...
Re: Show HN: Let’s Bend – Open-Source Harmonica Bending Trainer
#27Bending takes a bit of practice but it’s not terribly hard. Here are some general tips for absolute beginners that are based simply on my anecdotal experience as an amateur player: 1. Don’t start with a wooden harp like marine band. The metal and plastic ones are typically a bit easier to bend. 2. One hole at a time. Ensure you can exclusively blow in a single hole to practice 3. Lower notes are generally easier to b…
> Lower notes are generally easier to bend than higher notes One thing to note (pun intended) is that you can only bend the higher of the two notes in a hole. On the lower half of the harmonica, those are the draw notes. But the upper octave switches these around. The blow notes are the higher ones there, and those are the ones you can bend.
> you can only bend the higher of the two notes in a hole
This only holds true if you don't count overbending.
Overbending works by forcing the "wrong" reed to play, e.g. forcing the draw reed to sound when you blow while the blow reed remains silent. Overbends nicely complement normal bends, but interestingly, overbends are a half-step higher than the highest reed in the hole.
Re: Show HN: Let’s Bend – Open-Source Harmonica Bending Trainer
#28Damn language barrier, I thought this was about the accordion
Well, harmonica and accordion are both free-reed instruments, so you're close :)
Re: Show HN: Let’s Bend – Open-Source Harmonica Bending Trainer
#29First thought I had - I never thought that one can bend harmonica (I used to play it as a child and found it quite impossible). Since that time I have no usable harmonica in my home. Another thought I had - I'll test it on learning violin vibrato. And when I tried it - WOW! This software has very good responsiveness and those rectangles show tune in really clear way. It turns playing musical instrument into some sort…
There are different types of harmonicas. For 10-hole/blues harmonicas bending is a fairly common technique. It's less common or easy to do on other types of harmonicas, eg chromatic harmonicas. Maybe you tried one of those as a kid.
Re: Show HN: Let’s Bend – Open-Source Harmonica Bending Trainer
#30First thought I had - I never thought that one can bend harmonica (I used to play it as a child and found it quite impossible). Since that time I have no usable harmonica in my home. Another thought I had - I'll test it on learning violin vibrato. And when I tried it - WOW! This software has very good responsiveness and those rectangles show tune in really clear way. It turns playing musical instrument into some sort…
Thank you so much for the kind words – I’m really happy to hear you found it helpful, even for violin!
Let’s Bend was originally designed to support harmonica bending practice, but the idea of using the "stay in the square" feedback as a pitch visualizer for other instruments is incredibly exciting. It’s great to see it working in real musical contexts!
Just to address your points:
There’s already a *“Keep screen on”* toggle in the app settings – enabling it should prevent Android from turning off the screen during use.
You can also *change the root key and tuning system* in the settings. While the interface is still harmonica-focused, this makes the app more flexible – including for lower pitches like a violin's low G.
I’m genuinely grateful for your feedback and enthusiasm – and thanks for trying the app in such a creative way!