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Forums :: Ask Instructor David Barrett

Dip and slap

2 replies [Last post]
Sun, 05/07/2023 - 01:23
m.marco
m.marco's picture
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Level 4
Joined: 01/08/2023

Hello David,

I'm studying temperature and I got stuck on the dip in 3 draw and 6 draw.

I can really do the dip, but looking at the video lessons where you play without the backing track (I didn't notice It while listening to the study song) looks like you do also slap those notes. It's just me, or are you slapping and dipping at the same time? How do you do that?

If I try to slap a bend I always start from the top, then quickly dip the note...

 

PS: Is the vibrato and tremolo excercise song an excerpt from a "real" song from you or just an excercise? Really like It

 

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Sun, 05/07/2023 - 06:50
#1
David Barrett
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ExpertHead InstructorTeacher 10Level 10
Joined: 12/20/2009
Good ear m.marco. I didn't

Good ear m.marco. I didn't mean to slap my dips, but sometimes I forget to pull back my technique in the earlier lessons. For this study, you don't need to do this, but it is a technique that is used if you want to give it a try (don't dwell on it too much though, since it is a much more advanced technique than this lesson level). Here's how to practice it...

1) Play a 3' bend... memorize your tongue position and mouth shape for this bend. Generally-speaking, you'll feel your tongue go forward slightly and the middle front of your tongue will hump up.

2) Do a standard 3 draw slap, memorizing the motion of the tongue and the shape of the tongue on the face of the harmonica.

3) To do the technique, as you perform the slap, the goal is to have your tongue hit the face of the harmonica and have your tongue hump up at the bend spot at the same moment. This will create a slap into a 3' bend, of which you will release to create the dip.

PS: Not from a real song, but you can use it in one.

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Mon, 05/08/2023 - 03:55
#2
m.marco
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Level 4
Joined: 01/08/2023
Thank you, i'll give It a try

Thank you, i'll give It a try even though it's not a skill required for this song

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