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I dont tongue block

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Tue, 11/28/2017 - 19:34
Leo.blomerus@gm...
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Joined: 11/28/2017

I started lesson with my phone this morning.. what is the benefit in tongue blocking and is it really that important to learn?  it seems hard. I only been lip blocking and i tried putting my tongue in there but the bending with the tongue attached to the harp didnt feel good..

Also i have been playing years with cheap harps that leak and havent learned overblowing. Do you think blues harp By hohner in g easier or golden melody on A gettinh an overblow? Thanl youfor your answer greetinhs from Finland 

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Wed, 11/29/2017 - 12:56
#1
Expert Winslow Yerxa
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Joined: 01/16/2010
Tongue blocking has many benefits

If all you want to do is isolate a single hole, of course, you can do that woithout your tongue.

But using your tongue allows you to do many things that would otherwise be impossible or difficult:

  • Play two holes together that are not next to each other. This technique, called a split, is used to play octaves and other harmonies.
  • Rapidly alternate between single notes and chords to create textures and chord rhythms to accompany melodies.
  • Rapidly and accurately move between distant notes by moving from a note in the left corner of your mouth and another note in the right corner.
  • Start a single note with a brief chord texture to enhance the sound of the note. This is called a slap.

Tongue blocking effects are central to the sound of not only blues harmonica, but many other styles of harmonica playing as well. I was skeptical of tongue blocking when I started to play, and at first I avoided it. But I grew to love what it does, and now I tongue block more than 90 percent.

Cheap, leaky harps do not make efficient use of your breath and have a weak sound. You will have better tone, louder sound, and be in better tune, have harps that last longer and are easier to bend and overblow.

Golden Melody gives you overall good quality but is not the best for blues as its chords tend to sound harsh doe to the way the chords are fine tuned.

Blues Harp model is not ideal for airtightness as it does not use enough sscrews to fasten the reedplates to the wood comb.

I would suggest the Marine Band Deluxe or Crossover as superior harmonicas overall, and especially for blues.

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