Half Steppin' speed difficulties
Hi, David:
I'm having some struggles with Half-Steppin, not with the bends, but with the speed run in 4th bar of the 5th chorus. Those last four notes are really presenting a problem. I know that I can eventually get it, because I've overcome troubles with speed before, but it might take a few weeks.
How much value do you place on speed in a submission? I know that you specifically state that "speed does not matter" in the first few levels, but you stop mentioning that around LOA-4 or LOA-5. Am I now at the point that you expect submissions at 100% speed, or could I send something in at 85 or 90%?
Thanks, David. I'll continue to work on the speed of this for a few minutes a day while I work through the other LOA7 material. Maybe I'll have it up to speed by the time I'm done with "Blues for Paul DeLay."
Yah, allow it to simmer as you work on other material. Diligent practice and time are a wonderful combination.
Good evening David,
In your reply above you state "using your tongue in a piston-like effect". Regarding that lick, do you mean slapping all the notes of that lick?
Thanks,
Mark
Evening Mark. No, my tongue stays on the harmonica. When I play a draw note, my tongue (middle/back) lowers, drawing air in... for the blow my tongue raises again and sends air out... just like bellows. So I'm not actually breathing from my diaphragm... I'm using only the movement of my tongue to create the positive and negative pressure to play the notes.
This is pretty advanced stuff... you most like just want to work on playing it slowly and build up speed over time... your body will probably figure it out without too much conscious thought over time by itself.
Hello Marc. You're correct, your ability to play faster is part of your lessons now. With that said, 15% slow would be fine for this song. The key with that phrase is to play softly and very relaxed, using the air already in your mouth and using your tongue in a piston-like effect.