beng
2 posts
May 04, 2008
1:10 PM
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hi...
i'm starting from scratch, at the beginning...doing the 2 hole draw exercises, and trying to get rid of bad habits. im not a tongue blocker...just regular puckering. however, where should my tongue be on the regular single note? i dont do the u-bend with my tongue (i.e i dont 'curl' it), but i find if i rest my tongue on the bottom of the harp i get a clearer stronger tone.
what is the recommended tongue position for good, strong puckering technique?
thanks,
ben
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eharp
20 posts
May 04, 2008
2:02 PM
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if you are starting from scratch, i would suggest you learn tongue blocking first. in my case and others that i have talked to, it is easier to learn pucker after you know tb than the other way around.
but the tongue should lay relaxed and flat for the pucker. if you go to harpgear.com, there are a few videos going over good and proper embouchure that may be useful.
just curious here. if you are starting from scratch, what bad habits are you referring to?
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beng
3 posts
May 04, 2008
4:41 PM
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thanks for the link...
i've been playing harmonica on a neck brace for a few years, just blowing away whilst playing guitar...trying to sound like neil young. so, im trying to start from scratch learning blues harp. so the bad habits are all the things i've been doing without thinking about it.
from the reading i've been doing, i reckon you're right...in an ideal world, learning tb first is the best way to go. but i find it such a tough technique, and like many learners, i want to get going and start playing the kinds of riffs i love listening to. my plan was always to learn puckering, and then incorporate tb into my playing when i needed to get that bigger sound adam talks about. it's the big debate isnt it? who knows...
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eharp
21 posts
May 04, 2008
5:26 PM
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you got that right. in this fast paced, no time to wait, i got to have it now, instant gratification, 3 second to nuke a pop tart world, we got to get to playing juke within the first week or we will just never learn it.
i play pucker. i am lucky enough to sit in with folks. they enjoy my sound. but it sure isnt where i could be or would be if i had learned tb first. i give the same advice to all newbies. spend the extra couple of weeks of real and focused practice to learn tb. it will pay off at the end. (not that i take my own advice.)
but whatever you decide...good luck and enjoy the journey.
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beng
4 posts
May 05, 2008
1:25 PM
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ok eharp, i shall take you're advice. you had me at pop tart.
i'll let you know how i get on. i know tb is the longer road, but hopefully it'll be the more scenic route.
thanks
Last Edited by on May 05, 2008 1:27 PM
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eharp
22 posts
May 05, 2008
4:20 PM
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give it 30 days. if you arent happy, i'll refund your time.
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Jeff
74 posts
May 05, 2008
6:13 PM
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Haha!
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