Michael Rubin
892 posts
Jun 17, 2014
11:52 AM
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timeistight
1576 posts
Jun 17, 2014
12:14 PM
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The video ends abruptly in the middle of the Gary Primich story.
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Michael Rubin
893 posts
Jun 17, 2014
12:28 PM
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Thanks Timeistight!
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rockmonkeyguitars
102 posts
Jun 17, 2014
12:40 PM
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I use a 5 hole spread and work from the middle out. My tongue makes a U shape and the more holes I want to sound the more I use the top of my tongue. Most of the time I just play 1 or 2 notes at a time and so I only use the tip of my tongue but if I am playing 3 or 4 notes I just rotate my tongue up and use the top and it opens the range. According to your explanation this seems like it would be wrong and I'm just curious if you actually think it is?
I do agree with your statement about having the harp in deep in your mouth though... My teeth don't touch my harp, but if I clamped down they would be hitting that back 1/4 of the harp. Further in your mouth makes for fuller tone.
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Michael Rubin
894 posts
Jun 17, 2014
12:45 PM
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Rockmonkeyguitars, you are U blocking and it sounds like you have developed a very interesting method which is hard for me to comprehend from your writing. I would love to skype with you sometime to discuss it further.
What you are doing is not tongue blocking. However, it is certainly not wrong.
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timeistight
1577 posts
Jun 17, 2014
12:48 PM
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You need a five-hole spread to get octaves on solo-tuned harps (like most chromatics) or higher-end draw octaves on Richter harps.
BTW, Dennis Gruenling recommends blocking with the tip of the tongue. He doesn't seem to have any trouble blocking three holes that way.
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rockmonkeyguitars
103 posts
Jun 17, 2014
1:16 PM
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So it's another thing I can't do the same way anybody else does. Like I said in another thread, My 1st exposure to tongue blocking was Mel Bay and it was the same thing that you describe in your vid. I can't do that. I have spent hundreds of hrs trying to do it that way and I just can't. I thought that my U blocking was tongue blocking but I guess not. At least I can get the same effect with my method.
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Michael Rubin
895 posts
Jun 17, 2014
2:03 PM
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Rockmonkeyguitars, I hate to be the doubter, but I wonder if you truly get the same effect with your method. There are many effects to get. Again, I would be interested in a skype call to test the theory.
Timeistight, I certainly would consider Dennis an authority. I have seen many players have a small chord and when pressed, I discover they use the tip of the tongue.
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Michael Rubin
896 posts
Jun 17, 2014
5:51 PM
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Philosofy
564 posts
Jun 18, 2014
1:58 PM
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I use the tip of my tongue, or, more correctly, I use the tip and side of my tongue. If I'm blocking holes 1,2,3 and playing four, I put the tip of my tongue on hole 1, then move the harp to the left, while keeping the tip on hole 1, the side of my tongue covers 2 & 3.
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