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Forums :: Ask Instructor David Barrett

flutter tongue

1 reply [Last post]
Fri, 04/15/2011 - 10:11
strictlyunkev
strictlyunkev's picture
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Joined: 02/17/2011

Hi David, firstly i would like to say how much i am enjoying using the website , i am new to learning the harmonica in a formal way and find that the structure of the course is exactly what i have been looking for, i puckered for a couple of years and spent quite a bit of time on peter madcats dvds and tom balls sonny terry licks which are both excellent but had no understanding of musical structure and have never really played with other musicians which is definetely my long term goal, i was a bit nervous when i first signed up and realised your teaching was using the tongue blocking method but decided to start at the beginning with walk with me and learn to TB, i am now working hard on temperature but am really struggling with the tongue flutter, i am pretty sure i am isolating the hole to the right but do not seem to get any power or consistencey with it, my slaps are quite clear and defined ( not quite as clean and with your tone yet though ha ha) so was a bit disheartened when i watched joe get pretty much get the flutter in his videos straight off the bat, when i have been spending around 10 mins a day for 2 weeks??the plus side though i have been slapping the 6 then trying to flutter which has really improved my slaps, i can however get my tongue to move really fast though from side to side, you mention kim wilson doing it this way do you think some people are more natural at one or the other? i am also looking forward to continuing my progress and learning the more challenging songs and techniques and will submit a recording in due course.

Thanks again

kind regards

kev milo, England

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Fri, 04/15/2011 - 16:27
#1
David Barrett
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ExpertHead InstructorTeacher 10Level 10
Joined: 12/20/2009
Answer

Glad to have you on the site Kev. Yes, most players either do flutter or side-flutter... so use the side flutter, it sounds great (Little Walter used this as well... so does Joe Filisko and Dennis Grounling... so you're in good company ;-)

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