Pull technique
Sat, 05/01/2010 - 19:29
Dave, I'm moving now into the intermediate study (this is getting exciting!), and I have a couple of questions about pulls.
Let's say there is a pull that has an emphasis on the four draw. Do I slap to the 1 through 3 holes - leaving the 4 draw open - then pull? Or, do I slap to the 1 through 3 holes - leaving the 4 draw open - the quickly slide my tongue over the 4 hole as well, and then pull? Does it matter?
I want to get this right out of the chute.
A pull starts with your tongue blocking all of the holes (1-4), then pulling off to sound the chord... it's an articulate chord. This is why you see all of the holes noted for the pull... it is a chord. You commonly see a pull following a downbeat slap. For example, a 4 draw slap on the downbeat, then a 4 draw pull (a chord with the 4 draw as its highest sounding note). To perform the slap in this example your tongue starts off the harmonica, you start to sound the chord and then slaps on holes 1-3... this is the slap... you then stick more tongue out to block all of the holes in preparation for the pull, then pull ("pluck" if you like) the tongue off to sound the chord.