Blocking Technique for lower register...?
Hi David.
Thanks for the great resource. you've created a really great site with really wonderful lessons. I've been trying like mad to get through some of the intro routine and get my technique down. I have a question about blocking and the playing the c maj scale.
I'm a very new player and still experimenting withe my tounge blocking technique.
When playing the lower end of the c maj scale with the blocking technique, do you keep all 4 of the first holes in your mouth and move your blocking from the left to the right depending on what hole you're playing? Or do most players move to puckering when you get the 2 and the 1 holes?I find it hard to play the 2 draw in the first place, and bending it with the blocking method is even more difficult.. Is there some secret technique you can inpart..?
Thanks for the help!
Todd
Wow, thanks for the great reply. Just what I was hoping for.
Hello Todd. Thank you for your kind words and I'm glad you're enjoying your studies.
When playing hole 4 you block holes 1, 2 and 3 to the left with the top of the tongue, just past the tip.
When playing hole 3 you block the wood to the left of hole 1, hole 1 and hole 2 to the left (same part of the tongue)
When playing hole 2 you block the wood to the left of hole 1. Though you won't feel hole 1 with your tongue, it will be blocked. So, your tips is to aim for the wood, not hole 1 (when aiming for hole 1, some of hole 2 is blocked). Many players allow a little bit of the corner of the harmonica go into their mouth... I do this as well.
When playing hole 1 you can take your tongue off, essentially a pucker embouchure, or move your tongue to the right to cover hole 2, or 1 and 2, or 1, 2 and 3 (depending on the passage you're playing). I speak of all of this in the Chorus 2 video in this lesson http://www.bluesharmonica.com/lessons/tongue_blocking_1
You'll get the bending, it just takes time and patience. Best wishes on your studies.