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Forums :: Ask Instructor David Barrett

Solo harmonica Study 1 - Chording

1 reply [Last post]
Mon, 11/30/2015 - 17:57
baruch.friedman...
baruch.friedman@medstar.net's picture
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Joined: 10/09/2015

Dave Im getting lost here. For example 1.1 your 1 draw you say is essentially equivalent to the fuller chord 321 draw in ex 1.2, but in example 1.3 your 1 draw is now equivalent to the 21 draw in ex 1.4. Why does that change. Also I dont understand where tongue blocking occurs with chording - do you forgo tongue blocking and just use the pucker technique for chording. Its hard to visualize how one achieves a 321 draw with the tongue blocking technique and also woul have to manufacture a 21 draw with the same tongue blocking technique - Does your tongue go to the left or right of these respective chords, and how do you get 3 notes versus 2 notes at a time?

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Mon, 11/30/2015 - 18:05
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David Barrett
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Joined: 12/20/2009
Hello Baruch "Dave Im getting

Hello Baruch

"Dave Im getting lost here. For example 1.1 your 1 draw you say is essentially equivalent to the fuller chord 321 draw in ex 1.2, but in example 1.3 your 1 draw is now equivalent to the 21 draw in ex 1.4. Why does that change."

Yes, it is not easily apparent, this is why I mention it in the video. I wish I could give you a rule-of-thumb, but it gets down to experimenting with a single note line until you feel you have the essence of what's being represented in chords.

"Also I dont understand where tongue blocking occurs with chording - do you forgo tongue blocking and just use the pucker technique for chording. Its hard to visualize how one achieves a 321 draw with the tongue blocking technique and also woul have to manufacture a 21 draw with the same tongue blocking technique - Does your tongue go to the left or right of these respective chords, and how do you get 3 notes versus 2 notes at a time?"

Yes, when chording like this your tongue is off of the harmonica. When you play a single note you place your tongue back on the harmonica. I'm sorry that I was not clear with this, I'll make note of this when I update the videos... thanks for brining it to my attention.

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