Frank
4663 posts
Jun 26, 2014
1:17 PM
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For the record I prefer to play the harmonica using the tongue block embouchure exclusively give or take a lick here or there lipping.
Like most others I started out lipping and came to understand that the holes I played were the result of the harmonica resting on my lower lip...
So it is easy for me to call what I was doing to achieve notes on the harp as lip blocking.
I mentioned earlier I see more and more players referring to the embouchure as LB...
The newerish players and the youngtimers are going to be easy to persuade that what they are doing is in fact Lip blocking the hole or holes they want to play.
And they will choose to use the term Lip Block instead of the inferior description of purse or pucker...
I made the argument on harp-L in 2010 that Lip Blocking needs to be used to describe what a hell of a lot players are doing.
It fell on deaf ears :)
The archives of harp-l have lip blocking mentioned back in 2004.
The older timers are never going to stop calling it pucker or purse - so, untill that generation of players live out their set years here on earth, those terms will still be negatively effecting new players.
But - I can see a day when purse and pucker will be seen as a faulty description for how someone plays the harmonica and those words will be replaced with the accurate embouchure labeling of "LIP BLOCKING" :)
WHAT IS YOUR PERSONAL VOTE...
CHOOSE ONE...
a) pucker
b) purse
c) lip block
Last Edited by Frank on Jun 26, 2014 1:39 PM
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Pistolcat
643 posts
Jun 26, 2014
1:35 PM
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Lip blocking is consequent with tongue blocking. However I prefer tonguing and lipping but no one is going to change from tongue blocking and I think tonguing is already taken for those bluegrass techniques....
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Pistolkatt - Pistolkatts youtube
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Frank
4666 posts
Jun 26, 2014
2:12 PM
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what he said :)
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jnorem
334 posts
Jun 26, 2014
2:31 PM
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What's wrong with calling my embouchure puckering? It's what I'm doing.
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Call me J
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SuperBee
2091 posts
Jun 26, 2014
2:38 PM
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As FZ once went on record (mothers: just another band from LA) to say: "questions, questions, questions, flooding into the mind of the concerned young person today...."
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Frank
4667 posts
Jun 26, 2014
3:35 PM
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J...I entirely agree - "IF" that is what your doing, then don't call it what it ain't.
Call it what it is, that your actually partaking in!
I believe that there are tons of lip players who once they examine how they are factually playing the notes on their harmonicas - then,
They will proudly come to the conclusion and loudly declare - "I AM" A (LIP BLOCKER)
So the discussion that I believe we are having is this...
Just because the older timers are telling you to call your lipping either pucker or purse, does not mean you have to follow their lead.
There is NOW "a new kid on the block" and has taken over!
And his name is LIP BLOCK
Or as his friends call him > LB :)
WHAT'S YOUR VOTE BIG BOY ?
Last Edited by Frank on Jun 26, 2014 4:37 PM
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tmf714
2619 posts
Jun 26, 2014
3:50 PM
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Its nothing new-Jerry Portnoy has been using the term "lip blocking" since his Harmonica Masterclass series debut around 1997-funny how people think they "invented" or stumbled onto this as something new or revolutionary-at least that is the feeling I am getting from some of these threads-please correct me if I am mistaken.
Last Edited by tmf714 on Jun 26, 2014 3:51 PM
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Frank
4670 posts
Jun 26, 2014
4:07 PM
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I think what your seeing is a bloody REVOLUTION about using the term lip blocking...I'm sure it precedes 1997,
Move over rover there's a hot dog movin in :)
Last Edited by Frank on Jun 26, 2014 4:18 PM
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harpdude61
2046 posts
Jun 26, 2014
7:40 PM
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nobody claims to have invented anything here....funny how it was never talked about here if Portnoy did it....how can you be aware of something if you have never been exposed to it. You stand corrected tmf
Frank we love ya Bro but you have somewhat of an addiction to starting new threads. Polls usually end up being pretty much of a joke....or were you just joining others in poking fun at students of the harmonica that are open to learn, absorb, and pass along anything they discover.....whether it carries merit or not.
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www.facebook.com/catfishfryeband
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slackwater
65 posts
Jun 27, 2014
2:27 AM
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Lip blocker...nah, I can't see it taking off. Two opposing plosive consonants, no, it just doesn't roll off the tongue.
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Frank
4673 posts
Jun 27, 2014
4:08 AM
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No need to read between the lines here- are you or aren't you a LBer...you can't have your cake and eat it too.
Unless you divide the percentages?
Do you pucker 70% of the time and lip block 30%...
If so, you have to give LB is proper recognition :)
If you are actually lip blocking when you play but continue to call what your doing pursing, then you are doing a disservice to the harp community for being so closed minded.
All you "lippers" out there....PLEASE at this very moment, play your harmonica and truthfully let us know if you are playing puckering or lip blocking.
Or a mixture of both?
If your a PURE puckerer it is a beautiful thing and you should be exceedingly proud of your embouchure.
If your lip blocking and refuse to give the term its proper due and insist on continuing to call it pursing then, you have to live with that decision.
But to all you players who have the courage to tell others that YES "you" ARE IN DEED a practicing "lip blocker" - congratulations, you still may be mocked by a few -
But you are not alone here...There are literally millions of Lib Blockers now who have grown wary of being left out of the conversation for so long.
Come together - embrace your courage and confidently begin using the term (lip blocking) more and more and more in your writings and when talking to others about embouchure.
So - which are you, a Puckerer, Purser or Lip Blocker?
Please, place your vote now :)
Last Edited by Frank on Jun 27, 2014 4:11 AM
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Frank
4676 posts
Jun 27, 2014
4:54 AM
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spam basterd took Superbees post I was responding to
Last Edited by Frank on Jun 27, 2014 4:57 AM
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tmf714
2623 posts
Jun 27, 2014
10:03 AM
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Frank
4685 posts
Jun 27, 2014
10:07 AM
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Jerry must of been following my thread and joined LBer Army :)
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The Centipide Saloon
Tip Your Waiter Please
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tmf714
2624 posts
Jun 27, 2014
10:16 AM
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I spoke with him this afternoon-he said I could use this clip to enlighten people to the technique. Then I have to remove it or be killed.
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colman
308 posts
Jun 27, 2014
10:41 AM
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I been playing since 1968, and have been using all technique plus blocking lower half of the holes with my tounge and slide around the harp ,for fast licks...
I use any of these styles all in one song...
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Frank
4687 posts
Jun 27, 2014
11:16 AM
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Sorry, your disqualified from voting colman - on the grounds of using every known embouchure in one song...this is not an exemption and your vote will not count sorry :)
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nacoran
7842 posts
Jun 27, 2014
12:38 PM
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What is it called when you stick one whole end of the harp in your mouth a la SBII? Or how about the nasal playing with a banana in your mouth? Playing the back side of the harmonica? Or how about when you have the harmonica mounted into your dentures?
I've seen videos of all 4 of those, but no one is debating their merits. What's up with that?
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Nate
Facebook
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First Post- May 8, 2009
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Frank
4691 posts
Jun 27, 2014
12:45 PM
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I'd call all of those examples as Lip Blocking and will be adding them 4 votes to the count, thank you Nate and where does your vote fall, mind if I put you down as a LBer too to help us fortify this non-violent take over? :)
Last Edited by Frank on Jun 27, 2014 12:50 PM
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Milsson
136 posts
Jun 27, 2014
12:55 PM
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Goddammit Frank! Just lett it be.
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Frank
4692 posts
Jun 27, 2014
1:00 PM
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This is a peaceful protest, no vile language please :)
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jnorem
336 posts
Jun 27, 2014
1:52 PM
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Here's the thing: I'm not "blocking" anything. I'm puckering my lips to play one hole at a time.
Jesus Christ.
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Call me J
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Frank
4698 posts
Jun 27, 2014
1:56 PM
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J. your vote was added to the pucker player list- it's all good :)
Last Edited by Frank on Jun 27, 2014 1:58 PM
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BluesJacketman
157 posts
Jun 28, 2014
5:36 PM
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Theres only two embouchures.
Lip Embouchure - Puckering, pursing, and (oh my god you all need to stop giving so much lip, oh sorry I mean STOP bitching about it) "Lip Blocking". Basically anything that doesn't involve the tongue on the harmonica.
And...
Tongue Embouchure - Tongue Block or U-Blocking. Generally anything that involves the tongue on the harmonica. Even splits.
That's my vote. Or opinion. Or Idea... Whatever you harpsters are calling it these days.
Last Edited by BluesJacketman on Jun 28, 2014 5:39 PM
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KingoBad
1491 posts
Jun 28, 2014
10:00 PM
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Then there's the Tao way of playing by not playing...
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Danny
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Ugly Bones Ryan
91 posts
Jun 29, 2014
1:46 PM
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I use tongue blocking and puckering but I prefer puckering. I don't know why its just more comfortable for me.
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