The Iceman
1121 posts
Aug 26, 2013
12:29 PM
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Big tone/little tone. doesn't matter.
I look for something to enjoy from a player. If it tickles my ears, than I like it. I might go back later to re-listen and then find that the tone is this or that.
In my long and winding path on harmonica, I might spend years deciding this is how I like to play. For me, it was single note style for the longest time. It was here that I learned to control all bends to pitch, create OB/OD and challenge myself to make all these notes as seamless as possible - through technique or a sneaky way of where I place an OB or OD to minimize its overall effect at breaking up a melodic line.
Come to think of it, long melodic line was my main interest.
I never would have thought it, by my latest incarnation is "Playing off the Groove" in which I've rethought TB. Now this is all I practice...complete TB the whole range of the harmonica. TB to the left or right. TB and controlling bends to pitch. Still can't OB/OD or high end blow bend TB though.
The result is that I can move from single note to TB instantly and even use them both within a single line. It opened the door to a lot of creative ideas never found when sticking to just one technique.
Also, I've found that I think my tone is "fatter" when TB'ing, although I don't know if this truly translates to the listener.
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The Iceman
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Zadozica
259 posts
Aug 26, 2013
3:17 PM
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Nice to see the fine art of beating a dead horse is alive and well;)
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Frank
2659 posts
Aug 26, 2013
4:49 PM
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The Horse looks pretty healthy to me :)
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Littoral
984 posts
Aug 26, 2013
6:58 PM
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@Adam: “There are many kinds of great tone. It's a mistake to reduce great tone to one technique.”
Agreed. I’d actually push it to ignorant.
I say the sound of tongue blocked notes and phrases can be unique and absolutely stunning. Call it tone, technique, or whatever you wish, I like it. Again, “It's a technique question aimed at the quest for tone.” I've never heard the same sounds lip pursed. Never.
@Adam: “Somebody's always coming along and proving you wrong.”
Or (maybe) just teaching us something new, prof.
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Frank
2661 posts
Aug 26, 2013
7:37 PM
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Leave it to Howard to teach us something new :)
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harpdude61
1792 posts
Aug 27, 2013
2:25 AM
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"I say the sound of tongue blocked notes and phrases can be unique and absolutely stunning".
So so true!
I say the sound of lip blocked notes and phrases can be unique and absolutely stunning. I'll agree with myself on that.
"Call it tone, technique, or whatever you wish"...Technique will get you tone or various tones, but the comparison of a lip blocked tone to a Tongue blocked tone has nothing to do with flutters and such. You won't hear these lip pursed. You hear other fantastic things not available to TBers.
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Rubes
747 posts
Aug 27, 2013
4:50 AM
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I've taken something in from justvaboutbeveryone on this one fellas....keep it coming! (Howard says it all tho!)
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Old Man Rubes at Reverbnation
Dads in Space at Reverbnation
Benny and Rubes at Reverbnation
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timeistight
1334 posts
Aug 27, 2013
7:13 AM
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"the comparison of a lip blocked tone to a Tongue blocked tone has nothing to do with flutters and such. You won't hear these lip pursed. You hear other fantastic things not available to TBers."
What fantastic things are not available to tongue-blockers?
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Frank
2664 posts
Aug 27, 2013
7:22 AM
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Don't fall for it Duane...Arthur might just use them for his on selfish schemes and possibly as a result of their use became one of the the greatest harpist to ever play the instrument :)
Last Edited by Frank on Aug 27, 2013 7:41 AM
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MN
268 posts
Aug 27, 2013
7:46 AM
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kudzurunner wrote: "I love what Nic does ... I just think that some of the attention he gets here betrays a misplaced and potentially damaging (to him) overemphasis on this one element of blues harmonica playing."
============
I'm glad someone said that.
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Rick Davis
2279 posts
Aug 27, 2013
8:16 PM
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LOL.... I think Nic knows exactly what he is doing.
Buy his album (you can listen to much of it here) and I think your "concerns" will be allayed. He is a great all-round blues player.
But this is interesting. Exactly what element of blues harp playing do you think he lacks?
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-Little Rick Davis
The Blues Harp Amps Blog
The Mile High Blues Society
Tip Jar
Last Edited by Rick Davis on Aug 27, 2013 8:23 PM
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KCBLUES
56 posts
Aug 28, 2013
4:37 AM
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First off, let me begin by saying that I do not know NIC CLARK...nor do I know RICK DAVIS... However, I do know ADAM and quite frankly I am a little surprised by his reaction to this young man and his playing. As much as I value and respect his views on most things harmonica, I believe he is off the mark with his assessment of young Mr. Clark.
I have appreciated the fact that Rick Davis continues to post clips of his jam and have been following the development of Nic. I have never once listened to him and thought that he was a 'one trick pony' - or - complacent with the knowledge that he has 'good tone." Instead, this is what my ears hear:
- a blues harmonica player heavily steeped in the Chicago blues tradition (clearly influenced by the big 3 but also Gary Primich)
- a talented soloist who knows how to build a solo - complete with dynamics and nuanced playing
- a developing entertainer/frontman. He has to work on his entertainment skills but that will come as will his singing - although I must point out that the little bit of siniging I have heard sounds really good. He has a nice tone to his voice and appears to know how to use it...
- oh yeah, it just so happens that he has a tone/vibrato such that he could hold a two draw and knock you over at 40 paces!
I am not sure about the relationships and influence of Rick and the other "adults" surrounding him...It appears that Rick and others are FAR from opportunists when it comes to Nic but rather are fellow harp players and blues lovers. Rick - I certainly dont want to speak for you so correct me if I am wrong on this...
In closing, I want to add that although I admire and appreciate the harmonica playing of a very large number of members on this forum, there are actually only a handful I might go to see if they passed through my town. GRanted, that speaks more to my taste in music and specifically blues harp than to actual playing ability However, if Nic was passing through I would certainly be there to listen, admire and support - for my money, the kids got the goods and I am sure that he will continue to grow and develop as an artist..Exciting stuff!
thanks for listening...
Kurt Crandall
Last Edited by KCBLUES on Aug 28, 2013 4:39 AM
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Littoral
985 posts
Aug 28, 2013
4:31 PM
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Rick/KC, I don't read Adam's comment as directed at Nic and his playing but rather a concern about Nic being an unsolicited rep for TB technique.
But the "...misplaced and potentially damaging... overemphasis on this one element of blues harmonica playing" is modernist to the point of paranoid. TBing is a great technique, that’s all. It’s NEVER to the exclusion of anything else. (see Nat Riddles)
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Rick Davis
2288 posts
Aug 28, 2013
8:40 PM
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Tom, I agree. Heck, I'm envious of Nic's ability. The kid is a true phenom.
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-Little Rick Davis
The Blues Harp Amps Blog
The Mile High Blues Society
Tip Jar
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chromaticblues
1454 posts
Aug 29, 2013
7:10 AM
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I must have missed something?
Did someone say something bad about this young Man Nic Clark.
I went back and read what Adam wrote and I believe what he was talking about is; he hopes that what happens to so many young talanted people doesn't happen to him. Many times young people that are very good are thrown into the public eye and they get alot of attention. Which we all know is fun at a young age! Many of these same people just blend at 24 years old and have a hard dealing with it.
This situation has gone bad way to many times!
Mr. Gussow is a smart man! He may have posted out of concern rather than jealousy. Just a thought!
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