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pull

David's Tip of the Day: Variation, Part 4 - Hook Example (Texture Options)

Posted Tue, 11/10/2015 - 08:40 by David Barrett Admin
David Barrett Admin's picture

Now that you have the hook dialed in, experiment with changing the way you present the hook.

I7 = 2 2" 2 doesn't have many options, but 6+ 5 6+ does. Use slaps to present them. Try slaps on the 6+ and flutter on the 5 (this is a very common way to present this lick). Octaves are great (though 2/5 is not an octave, it's an acceptable dissonance). Maybe start the lick with a pull to give it a rhythmic change.

Experiment with the other chords to see what you come up with.

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David's Tip of the Day: Top or Tip of Tongue for Octaves?

Posted Wed, 10/22/2014 - 09:57 by David Barrett Admin
David Barrett Admin's picture

It's common for players to use the tip of their tongue to block the two middles holes when performing an octave. Another option, one that I personally use, is to use the top of the tongue, just like you do for your other tongue blocking techniques (single notes, slaps, pulls, etc.) but just using an ultra-light touch so that the top convex shape of the tongue blocks the two middle holes, allowing air to flow on the left and right-hand side of the tongue. Tone is the same, but I'm able to be more relaxed an efficient in regards to moving from technique to technique. continue reading...

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David's Tip of the Day: Where there are pulls, there are slaps

Posted Sat, 10/04/2014 - 13:02 by David Barrett Admin
David Barrett Admin's picture

Translation...

When students start working on pulls (found on the upbeat), they forget to slap their other notes (found on the downbeat). This sounds strange... don't do this. The main reason why we tongue block is to use the slap technique, so make it your default... you should have a reason why you're not slapping. Next, when using other techniques, like the pull, don't forget to record yourself and listen back so you can make sure you're not forgetting to use your other techniques, like slaps, dips, flutters, tremolo/vibrato and dynamics. continue reading...

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David's Tip of the Day: Top of the Tongue - Efficiency

Posted Thu, 02/06/2014 - 09:19 by David Barrett Admin
David Barrett Admin's picture

Here's my personal approach to playing the harmonica...

1) Tilt face of harmonica slightly downward (around 30 degrees)

2) Open mouth

3) Insert harmonica, bringing the harmonica to the tongue (not the tongue to the harmonica)

4) For a standard tongue block (single note at right, with lips over four holes and tongue blocking three holes to the left), the tongue moves just one click to the left (11 O'clock)

5) To tongue switch, move to the right to 1 O'clock

6) To play an octave, center the tongue and use a lighter touch continue reading...

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