Tip of the Day

Now that the Sonny Boy Williamson II (Rice Miller) Artist Study is up we can finish this thread. Let's review the important points of the pull-slap.

Definition
Start with a pull articulation... finish with a slap... it creates a composite sound (not two separate sounds) that is in essence an articulated slap.

Here are some more helpful thoughts. Let's use a 4 draw pull-slap as our example.
1) Start with your tongue covering all holes (four in total... 1 2 3 4)
2) Perform the pull (now the tongue "plucks" off the harmonica) continue reading...

A slap starts with the tongue off the harmonica... so it is essentially not articulated. What do I mean by "articulated?" Play 4 draw many times using Ha Ha Ha Ha... this is your diaphragm pushing little bursts of air through the harp. Now play it with Ka Ka Ka Ka... this is articulated. Each "K" stops the air and then allows it to burst back through the harp... it's "sharp." continue reading...

How long does it take for a lick to get into your longterm memory? This is a combination of the two things...

1) Repetitions - You need to play it many times... minimum of 50... most likely 200. continue reading...

Let's start simply. The pull-slap combines the pull and the slap, making ONE COMPOSITE sound. Pull and then slap IMMEDIATELY. Give it a try.

In our example slaps are on downbeats and pulls are on upbeats. Described carefully we get...

Slap =
1) Tongue starts off the harmonica
2) Start to breath = chord sounds
3) Tongue is placed on the three holes to the left, leaving the fourth hole to sound

Transition =
1) Tongue is on the harmonica now, sounding the hole to the right... it needs to be covered to do a pull. Stick out a bit more of your tongue to cover all the holes (I like to use more of the top of my tongue... it's wider). At this point all of the holes are covered and you're ready to perform the pull.

Pull = continue reading...

An interesting new slowdown software for mac and iPod users that works right in iTunes. http://supermegaultragroovy.com/products/Capo/

It's made from the guitar player's perspective, but the slowdown and loop function will work for us just fine.

Take a listen to this... it will get you into the spirit of what we're talking about for the Pull-Slap and the general playing style we're going to dig into. Listen particularly to 1:15. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELLV-qzSgIo&feature=related

When learning a new passage...

1) Listen to it - Listen intently... do nothing else while doing this.

2) Hum it - Internalize the melody and rhythm (Is it not harder to do two things at the same time? Get the melody and rhythm down first, then try it on your machine.)

3) Play it on your machine

It's now time to use these techniques right next to each other (we're not talking about the Pull-Slap yet... we're getting there!).

Take a look at the lesson Tongue Block Study 3... open the PDF for the lesson... look at Example 1.1. Slap the 4+, then pull, then slap the 4+, then pull, etc. In this exercise slaps are on the downbeat and pulls are on the upbeat. continue reading...

Let's see how you did in your description of the pull... here's mine...

1) Your lips are over 4 holes (standard size)
2) Your tongue starts ON the harmonica... blocking ALL 4 holes (using the top of the tongue is preferred... it's wider)
3) Start to breath lightly... nothing should sound... pull your tongue off, achieving a plucking-like feel (imagine a suction cup popping off of a surface).
4) The pull should be sharp, but quiet (commonly 50% the volume of single notes), and dissipate very quickly (you don't continue breathing when your tongue pulls off). continue reading...