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Forums :: Ask Instructor David Barrett

-4'-5 chord draw tongue blocked?

1 reply [Last post]
Sun, 08/18/2019 - 14:29
bmahoney79
bmahoney79's picture
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Joined: 06/10/2018

G'day David,

First up, a quick thank you for the lessons - definitely the best structured learning out there and a great community here at bluesharmonica.

I was watching a YT video the other day, where the player was doing a -4'-5 chord, starting bent, and then releasing the bend and continuing to play. My question is this - is it possible to do the -4'-5 chord using the tongue block method? I can do it using the pucker, but I'm really struggling get it TB'd (I tongue block everything else, exclusively, and I'm reasonably comfortable on all the bends from 1-4 using tb).

Cheers from Australia,

Ben.

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Mon, 08/19/2019 - 07:59
#1
David Barrett
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ExpertHead InstructorTeacher 10Level 10
Joined: 12/20/2009
Thank you Ben, I'm glad

Thank you Ben, I'm glad you're enjoying your studies. Most definitely. Bending is not embouchure-specific... any bend can be done in a TB, pucker, U-block, etc. Most likely what you're struggling with is that you're using too much of the back of your tongue, too far back in the mouth. Focus on using more of the front of your tongue (raising it), further forward in your mouth. Review Bending Study 1 for bending 4, 5, and 6 draws. You'll get it, it's just a matter of experimenting over time.

Cheers from Norther California.

David

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