Breathing Tips - Ex. Gary's Blues 3rd Chorus.
David, I am coming along fine with Gary's Blues, but I want to ask you about your approach to lines that are similar to the 3rd Chorus of Gary's Blues. We are talking about running out of breath for the licks that start with a 4 bend. You have two of them back to back.
I am tongue blocking with the tongue on the left and the note sounding on the right. When I slide to the lower holes, two things happen at the same time. I end up in a U block or as I would say the Cleavage Block and I am running out of breath.
If I do the same 2 lines using the top left side of my tongue I can do it without running out of breath but still sound the note in the cleavage.
This might be a personal choice but I want to do the same technique all of the time. Basically I am using a different top part of the tongue, one I believe is what you teach, note is on the right of the tongue therefore blocking with more of the top right portion of the blade versus what I am finding easier to do for breathing when I find myself using the top left portion of the blade and note sounding in the middle of the tongue. (Cleavage Block)
Can you select the best choice for me or is this a common decision even for a classic tongue block on the left and sounding the note to the right of the tongue.
One other additional thought that might answer my dilemma. When you play those lines do you take any breaths after the 4 bent notes?
I am really excited about moving on. This right now is on my docket and I have not come to a good conclusion.
Will
That is just what I needed. I can do it. I will work on the nose leakage and maybe speed up these licks.
Thanks again, David.
Will
Hi Will, in the contributors section Joe Filisko has a video called "exhale push & nose push".
These techniques really help for not running out of breath on draw notes.
Evening Will. Keep your tongue to the left for playing holes 2 through 10 and the tongue to the right for hole 1. Exhale before you start that phrase and after it... make sure your nose is closed on that 4 draw. Breathing will get better with time... also keep in mind that you're playng to the slowed-down version, at the full tempo it should be easy after the 30% slow version! Take your time on this song... it can take some students six months... my student who played it tonight at the School of the Blues student concert was working on for this long.