RE: [Harp-L] response to Elizabeth: how to tongue block



First, my hearty welcome to Harp-l, Elizabeth.  You're quite correct, there
aren't too many lady harmonica players.  I kinda like that, though.  ;)

Harp-L has some "kinks" every now and then, but you've struck the "mother
lode" of harping!  As you have already discovered, the way to get the most
of it is to... participate!  (But don't forget to check out the Harp-L
archives (http://harp-l.org/pipermail/harp-l/) You are fortunate to have
come along after the Harp-L worker's recent change of servers and list
software.  Everything has much more user-friendly since then.  Thanks again
you Harp-L workers!

Now to my post-
David R. Fertig wrote:
> ... note, you don't need a whole durned book to
> learn tongue blocking, a visual demo is best, but  I'll try getting you
> started with a few words.  See below.

You may not ~need~ a book, but having Jerry Portnoy's Masterclass book/CD
set will be a huge help with this and other techniques and concepts.  I
can't say enough about this learning resource.  Many others who've benefited
from it agree.

> Oh, and the albums Froggy recommends (he meant "Folkways") are right on,
> too.  Also, the late William Clarke does some monster tongue-block
> chording, get any or all of his albums.

Little Walter is my favorite TB'er.  An artistic genius as well as a master
harp player.  Get Chess' "Little Walter: His Best" and listen to--no--study
it!

> And as Garry helpfully notes, there are blues jams in your neighborhood,
> several, I'd bet.  I've found them all over the US, and in Europe
> too.  Especially Sunday and Monday evenings at weekend blues venues.
Don't
> be shy, almost all blues players are generous and supportive.  Those that
> aren't generous and supportive are little more than showoff technicians,
as
> far as I'm concerned.  (So there!)

More excellent advice.  Don't wait until you think you are ready to play at
the jams, though.  Having met and gotten to know the players and supportive
cast and the music they play will be a big help to you when it comes time
for your turn on the stage.

> For tongue blocking, all you really need to do is:
>
>          Put the harp well into your mouth, open your mouth wide enough so
> you're blowing in (or out) at least four holes (try the low side for
> starters).

Yes, yes...

>          Then simply put your tongue against two holes so that you have
air
> going thru one hole on either side of your tongue, it should be an octave
> in most positions.

Yes...

I'd add that, like most other aspects of playing a harmonica (or any other
music instrument), relaxing is key to TB'ing.  You don't nee to "firm" up
you tongue or press it firmly against the comb.  Just enough pressure to
cover the holes that need to be covered.  If you use a "soft" tongue the
concept of tip, top or bottom of the tongue becomes more nebulous.  Just
find the position that feels right to you.

>          Try moving your tongue left and right, and vary the width of your
> mouth, or "embouchure" to vary the number and range of notes.  Sure it
> seems awkward at first, but you'll get the hang of it.  Also move your
> tongue on and off the instrument rhythmically, going from open chord to
> tongue-blocked  chord.

I think those are more advanced TB techniques.  I'd suggest starting by
simply covering 4 holes with your mouth (you can use your fingers placed
over the holes to either side as a guide) and then finding the tongue
position that most comfortably yields a single note.  Then learn to play
your single note melodies using your newfound (usually) left tongue-blocked
embouchure (meaning that the holes are blocked to the left side and the open
hole is to the right side of your oral aperture).  Once you're comfortable
with that embouchure and can play single note tunes or licks fluidly, try
hitting a 4-note chord and then "slapping" your tongue to its left-block
position, leaving the single right-most hole open to sound--the so-called
"tongue-slap".  This will add much richness to your playing and is ample rea
son to learn to TB in and of itself.  But there's lots more as Dave
suggests.

>          Repeat all of the above two thousand times, and presto!  Whole
new
> tones and textures!

Once you can play melodies with a tongue-slap the world of TB'ing is wide
open to you.  Do the opposite of the slap and lift the tongue after playing
a single note to reveal a rich chord lying underneath.  Try tongue-switches,
alternating between the left and right TB.  Try that as you "gliss" up and
down the harmonica.  Another cool technique is the tongue flutter where you
rapidly lift and apply your tongue (as an altenative to a head shake).  As
Dave suggests, the more your tongue becomes comfortable on that comb, the
more facile and varied your TBing will become.

>          Just remember, whether you're tongue blocking or not, try to keep
> your jaw low and loose, your throat fully open, and breathe with the
bottom
> of your gut.   And push that air through with steady and solid force,
> tentative don't get it.   But you don't need to bust a gut either.

Yes, again!

There's one final frontier to TBing that Dave didn't mention, TB bending.
The better your pucker bends are and the better you understand what is going
on with them, the easier TB bending will come.  I suggest that learning to
"throat" bend as opposed to tongue-at-the-front-of-the-mouth bend will be a
huge step on the way to your TB bending, but that is another chapter...

> That's about all I know about harpmonica.  Oh, and you need a cool hat!

You know much about our little instrument, Dave, and thanks for sharing it.
But, I've gotta side with Elizabeth on the hazards of "hat hair".  Go for
some cool shades instead, Elizabeth.  :)

And have fun TBing!

Michelle







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