Tongue block trainer
Hi David, Perhaps you have got tis question already several times.... how could I buy this tool pls?
Thanks
Joris
PS - tongue blocking 4-hole octaves is going well, however with 5-hole octaves I do not seem to succeed at all... I have a reatively narrow tooth and mouth shape, perhaps this is the reason? However I also experience that things go a little better when I tongue block with the bottomside of my tongue in stead of the topside.... meaning that in stead of curling the tip of my tongue down to block with the topside of my tongue, I curl the tip of my tongue up to block with the bottomside of my tongue. Is this also a right technique, or am I on the way to learn a bad habbit?
I recently have bought a chromatic harmonica, and as I expected I have with this instrument even problems with the 4-hole octaves, because of the bigger distance between the holes...
Any advise is very welcome.
Thanks
OK
David thank you
One little question: I do not really understand the word FROWN in this context.... could you explain a little more elaborate?
sorry about my limited English
No problem dej, I'm happy to help.
When you smile, your mouth gets slightly wider and the corners of your mouth raise. When you frown (an upside down smile) the same happens, just downward. If you smile and frown at the same time, it makes your mouth very wide. The goal is to be WIDE. Many students just open their mouth big (tall), but not wide... the key is to use your face muscles to have your mouth be very wide.
David,
Can one hold the harmonica in the right hand rather than the left?
It seems to feel better for me. Been playing that way for years but I am now trying to look for holes in my playing style.
Enjoying your lessons a lot so far.
Thanks!
Hello oefranz. The challenge in regards to holding the harmonica with the right hand has to do with holding a microphone. We spend more (a lot more) time on the left-hand side of the harmonica... the bass notes. When holding with the left hand, the mic sits right behind the lower five holes. When cupped well (directing all of the sound into the mic) you achieve a great amount of bass response and amplification for our most-used end of the harmonica. When holding with the right hand, it's a challenge to achieve a good cup all the way to the left, again for our more-used notes. This also extends to cupping affects (think Wa Wa) when playing acoustically. The key for you is experimenting. If you feel you can achieve a good amplified cup, and an acoustic cup that creates a good-sounding Wa Wa technique, then no need to switch.
Evening Joris.
You can purchase the TBT at http://www.filiskostore.com/page/480389598
I'm glad to hear the four-hole octaves are going well. A narrow mouth shape probably doesn't help, but I've never had a student (of all sizes) not be able to get the technique. Focus on the frown and smile at the same time... think wide. It takes time, so keep at it.
It's not rare for a player to use the underside of their tongue... Gary Primich played that way. I've explored this myself and have not run across any issues.
Most likely you're focusing on opening your mouth, not making your mouth wide. Again, the smile and frown at the same time is what will help. It's good you're also practicing this on the chromatic. The octave on the chromatic will make the ten-hole diatonic feel small!