[Harp-L] Double tongue blocking?

[Jordan Feldman]

I U block and pucker.  I’ll often U block 1st position fiddle tunes and the like..music where I’m not going to bend much.  It’s works well in higher register, as it can help in delivering the right amount and velocity of air to get clean high notes. Michael Rubin introduced it to me.  It seemed impossible at first but became natural rather quickly.
It’s a nice effect to get both a higher and lower harmony when you pull off..

> On Oct 28, 2018, at 3:00 AM, Rick Dempster <rickdempster33 at xxxxx> wrote:
> 
> Genearlly referred to as "U-Blocking". I think, describing the shape of the
> tongue.
> RD
> 
> On Sun, 28 Oct 2018 at 12:47, Mick Smith via Harp-L <harp-l at xxxxx>
> wrote:
> 
>> I have read about the 2 styles of single note playing, pucker and tongue
>> block but I don't think I use either.  I taught myself to play by rolling
>> up my tongue and using it to direct air flow at one hole only, and to
>> bounce it off for chords.  I could play simple tunes by holding the
>> harmonica with my teeth and moving my tongue left and right over 4 holes
>> maybe.  Dentures prevent that any more, and I usually used a horse collar
>> anyway.
>> Does anyone else play like this?  I haven't played for 40 years but am now
>> relearning and have decided on chromatic and solo tuned for Irish
>> traditional and Gospel music where notes are more important than bends and
>> chords.  I am exploring pucker and tongue block but neither seems as
>> intuitive as tongue-roll to me, except center  blocking for octaves or
>> intervals seems appealing.  I do plan to explore them enough to know what
>> tools are available.
>> I am fascinated by the talk on positions and modes, as much of Irish music
>> is modal, and my ear/brain is starting to grasp the feel of it.  My plan is
>> to learn to hear and feel it first, then analyse it.  People I know who
>> learn the tech first seem to struggle more learning to play by ear later.
>> Mick
>>