Ken Byron
1 post
Jan 03, 2015
10:42 PM
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Hi Blues addicts. Takes one to know one eh?
My name is Ken. I am originally from Liverpool in the UK but reside in Perth Australia.
Have just days ago joined this site and pleased that I have with all the info available. I have been playing harp for about 18months now and feel I am coming along well, actually making big inroads into the Chicago Blues classics.I find it difficult to tongue block correctly as the tongue wants to move away from the the holes I am trying to block out. Can anybody give some advice on how to master this technique? How to practice the technique?
Thanks and keep Harpin' OZ Ken
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Pistolcat
750 posts
Jan 04, 2015
3:41 AM
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Welcome Ken! I'll pick the low hanging fruit first and maybe you'll get some finer pointers further down the road!
First out: put the harp deep in your mouth. Put the harp to your tongue and not your tongue to your harp!
Second: play relaxed! Easier said than done in the beginning which leads me to;
Third: keep at it! It'll come with time. There are no shortcuts.
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Pistolkatt - Pistolkatts youtube
Last Edited by Pistolcat on Jan 04, 2015 3:57 AM
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DannyRanch
30 posts
Jan 05, 2015
6:17 AM
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Hey, Taking advantage of this existing post
Is there any (evident) difference between Tongue Blocking and "U Blocking"
I'm not 100% sure but I think this is the approach I use (still unsure since I can't see inside my mouth but) but according to some experiment I did sometimes when I realize thats what I'm doing
The question is basically is there something about that approach incorrect? Like It is not going to provide a good tone or is a technique not going to perform well that way?
And if the differences are significant how can I correct the approach?
Is basically just a doubt I had for quite a time
Thanks
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nacoran
8194 posts
Jan 05, 2015
6:28 AM
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Tongue blocking is usually done to the side of your tongue, U blocking is done in the middle. For example, tongue blocking playing the 2 hole your tongue would be on the 3 (and probably the 4 and 5) and the 1 hole would be off past the side of your lip. U blocking your tongue would be on the 1 and 3 hole and you'd have your tongue curled so you could still play the 2.
There is also some debate about pucker versus lip blocking, with the argument going that pucker is kind of like whistling and lip blocking being done primarily with the lower lip in a sort of U blocking style.
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Nate
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DannyRanch
31 posts
Jan 05, 2015
6:45 AM
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Yes, I was referring to Tongue Blocking on the "U Block style"
As sometimes I realized is the way I'm playing, I suppose is the way it is more comfortable for me, but some techniques as flutters are difficult to be made so I don't know if it has some disadvantages maybe?
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SuperBee
2311 posts
Jan 05, 2015
11:55 AM
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I don't disagree with the gist of what you said Nate, but if I was playing chamber 2 I'd be blocking chamber 1 with my tongue.
Nothing wrong with u blocking but it isn't the same thing as is usually meant by the term tongue blocking.
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