How to approach course
Hi David
As a beginner in playing blues, this is the first course I have considered which I discovered on a label found inside my Hohner Crossover box.
I started the pucker technique playing melodies 6 months ago on my first diatonic harmonica, as I used to play a chromatic with the tongue block years ago as holes were bigger and easier to tongue block but found pucker easier on the diatonic, but now realising I should have stuck with the tongue block.
Working through the first level of achievement and learning "Walk With Me". Is it better to work my way through the tongue block studies in order through the Levels of Achievements and come back to the solo studies ?
Kind Regards
Roger
What I do find is tongue blocking produces a wetter harmonica than pucker and needs tapping on the hand more often, Is that just me because the tongue needs more training until I get the hang of it?
Hello Dodger. Exactly, you'll get the hang of it. Keep tapping out your harmonica, but over time, as your technique develops, you'll be throwing less spit into the harmonica. These tips will help this...
1) Head Up - Let gravity help by playing with your head tilted up
2) Light Touch - Use a light touch with your lips and tongue on the face of the harmonica
Hello David
Thank you for this advice and look forward to developing further and picking up more techniques and hopefully my good lady will not need the mop and bucket every time I practice
Hah. My pleasure Dodger.
Welcome to the site Roger.
That's good you had some experience with tongue blocking on the chromatic. With time you'll get it on the diatonic.
I recommend you work on "Walk With Me" for most of your time, but still work on the Solo Harmonica studies on the side (say 5-10 minutes, if you're doing ~30 on the Walk With Me)... it's fun, and a way of playing that you can study now. It may be wise to do Walk With Me for about a month to develop the single note tongue block first.
Tip for Solo Harmonica playing... when you play chords, your tongue is off the harmonica. When you play single notes, you're tongue blocking.