Tongue blocking
Hi David,
Loving the web site although struggling with tonuge blocking. I've been playing or learning to play for about a year. I have started with JP Allen technique the deep relaxed embrochure not really a pucker and I'm finding it differcult to switch to the tonuge block. Do you have any further tips, trick or techniques that could help me further?
Thanks for the lessons really enjoying them :-) Garry
Hi David,
Thanks for the reply David it's been afrustrating day feeling like I've gone backwards instead of forwards, however I can now get some good single notes using tongue blocking, :-) thanks again for your lessons & positive renforcement.
Just to clarify I know not to use the tip of my tongue however is the tip outside your teeth (between the gums and lip) or inside of the teeth?
Thanks again Garry
I'm happy to help Garry. Your tongue generally doesn't go past your teeth... if so, not by much. Open your mouth... insert your harmonica... the harmonica almost touches the tongue at this stage, you just stick the tongue out slightly to meet the harmonica.
Welcome to the website Garry. It's good you developed the skill to pucker, you will use it in some places. Learning how to tongue block is just your natural evolution as a harmonica, making available to you the great techniques used by the players you hear on recording. Take your time and enjoy the lessons... the journey of discovering cool new sounds... and learn how to tongue block a single note (probably puckering hole 1 instead of tongue switching), to slap, to flutter, to pull and octaves. These are at the core of tongue blocking and blues harmonica playing. Once you've gone through those lessons you can decide where and when to use each embouchure. Many players end up tongue blocking all the time, but there's nothing wrong with using pucker (commonly for holes 1 through 3, and when you bend) and tongue blocking holes 4 and above (for the slaps, pulls, octaves, etc.)... this is a valid approach. If you want the most efficient way to play, then tongue block all the time.
My tip... take your time and be patient with yourself... it's hard now, but won't be soon... you just don't know when "soon" will be, but it will come. The reward is the great sounds it has to offer.
Best wishes on your studies.