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Dirty-South Blues Harp forum: wail on! >
Fellow Beginners - CRUNCH is possible!
Fellow Beginners - CRUNCH is possible!
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Pauly22
19 posts
Jul 11, 2013
8:47 PM
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So, I'm really psyched and needed to post. I'm a year into playing harp, and I'm drawn to players with crunchy sound. I've followed the advice that's out there on the net and have made good progress with lip pursing. I have a good vintage amp, and a great mic from Greg Heumann (props, Greg). Crunch has always eluded me though.
All the biggies will tell you crunch comes mostly from your technique. I didn't want to believe it. I mean, why learn to do something when you can just buy an amp or a mic, or even a pedal, right.
I'm recently learning to tongue block (yes, great post just before this one), and slapped for the first time this week. I recorded myself tonight, and you know what? I'm a crunchy mother-f@#$er.
I have now learned through personal experience that crunch comes from your amp, your mic, your cupping technique, a hundred other things, tongue blocking, slapping, pulling, octaves, moving from octaves to single notes. It's wonderful. Immerse yourself in the diversity of things to do with the harmonica. If you learn only one technique, you're likely to have a narrow sound.
Props to Adam's lessons on tongue blocking. Props to Dave Barret's as well. Everyone telling you crunch and tone is 80% or more in your technique is right. It's a journey. Take your time and know that if you're on the right road, you'll get there.
Learn to tongue block. Crunch is possible.
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Greg Heumann
2259 posts
Jul 11, 2013
9:06 PM
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Way to go!
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/Greg
BlowsMeAway Productions
See my Customer Mics album on Facebook
BlueState - my band
Bluestate on iTunes
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Kingley
2873 posts
Jul 11, 2013
10:20 PM
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Congratulations Pauly. You've just learnt the biggest single lesson. It's always technique that brings the most to the table.
Now that you've delved into tongue blocking things will start to improve in leaps and bounds. Lip pursing is good too, so don't forget to keep practicing that as well though. Both have a place in any good players bag of tricks.
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Reed Triller
145 posts
Jul 11, 2013
11:00 PM
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Kingley said it, keep practicing pursing, too. Even U blocking. The more tricks you have to use the better. I know exactly how you feel. I started as a purser and for the first 3 years that is all I did. Then about a year ago I finally bit the bullet and watched Jasons and Lee Sankeys Youtube videos on tongue blocking. I had always thought it was much more difficult than it actually turned out to be and I was amazed at the difference in tone and all.
Keep it up!
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"Bend it like Ricci" - Me
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