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Forums :: Ask Instructor David Barrett

Bending Tongue Positions

1 reply [Last post]
Sat, 07/26/2014 - 08:59
SmokeJS
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Joined: 07/01/2013

Interesting hearing Joe Filisko talk about bending as it makes my struggles feel more universal so I'm now taking my lack of progress a bit less personally.

One of the things I'm working on is a Born In Chicago riff at the low end so my version is 5th 7b 7 Root. At the low end that means 1 2" 2' and 2 or D F F# and G. Very challenging to get solid clean notes that match the guitar perfectly. To help with the bends I'm using Kuuuhh for the whole step bend and Keee for the half step. For the 2 root note I tend to use eeee without the K as that might initiate a bend.

My question is do these tongue positions/articulations match your approach? The other pharase I use is Kooohh but that's for the deepest bend in hole 3. I may have become confused by watching other videos and have now gotten a bit lost. Thanks!

 

 

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Sat, 07/26/2014 - 11:31
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David Barrett
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ExpertHead InstructorTeacher 10Level 10
Joined: 12/20/2009
Answer

You're on the right track. "ee" for the 2 will work, but "ee" places your tongue right under your upper set of teeth. A larger tone chamber will give you better tone... so drop that tongue (without the back raising) for a bigger tone on that 2 draw.

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