The more I get into harmonica the more terms I run across, and half the time people disagree on what they mean, so I thought I'd start a thread to collect these terms in one place and get some definitions and see where people agree and disagree. If you think of something that needs to be added, add it, definition or not. If we get good definitions maybe we'll have a nice glossary when we're done. Lets get synonyms too. Here's the list. I'll work on adding definitions as we reach consensus.
Embouchure Terms: Tongue Block Lip Block Pursing U-Block Some Goofy Ones- Face Block- Blocking the middle notes on the harmonica with your face so that you can create the opposite (draw/blow) reaction on the high end of the harp from what you are doing on the low end. Finger Blocking- Related to face blocking, using the right hand to block the 10 hole so the 9 hole sounds. Nasal Block- Snot a real thing. :)
Techniques to Produce Notes. Blow Draw Overblow Overdraw Drawbend Deep Bend Whatever the real name for face blocking is.
Embossing Tip Scooping Gapping Tuning Just Equal Compromise Harpboxing Tremolo Wah-Wah Talking Harmonica Mustache Hopscotch- Keeping your mustache from getting caught in one of the four holes in a Lee Oskar harmonica. Fat Tone Thin Tone Warm Tone Bright Tone Crunchy
Harmonica Shapes: Tin Sandwich Moon Shaped Tapered Ends Square Ends Recesses Reeds Protruding Reeds Chicago Blues Southern Blues Busking
Man, you have a few things I've never heard of and gave me a chuckle with a few, like face block, nasal block, moustache hopscotch. ---------- Sincerely, Barbeque Bob Maglinte Boston, MA http://www.barbequebob.com CD available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bbmaglinte
Here's another technique that I can't think of another name for, but I do it a lot for 'emphasis' notes: on draw notes like 4, include a bit of 5 draw with it to make a 'dirty' note. These really scream amplified.
And, would you call the covering of unplayed holes using your thumbs or fingers 'digit-blocking' or 'paw-blocking'?
Sphincter blocking?? As kids these days say for that one, ewwwww!!! ---------- Sincerely, Barbeque Bob Maglinte Boston, MA http://www.barbequebob.com CD available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bbmaglinte
Tod- Yeah, I do something with a 4 with a dirty 5 too. It sounds awesome! No idea what it's called.
BBQ- I actually do get some use out of that face block! The only problem is the high not tends to get drowned by the low notes. I can hear it fine, since to do it right the one end of the harp is pointed at the ear. You have to have a really tight cup on it. When I first heard about playing the high note with back pressure from the low blow/draw the person described it as Phantom of the Opera-ish. I can get the 10 hole blow or draw, the 9-10 blow or draw, and if I block that with my finger I can get the 9 blow or draw. I can't seem to block the 8 without breaking the cup seal and losing the effect. ---------- Nate Facebook
what about when you stick the end of the harp on your mouth like a cigar and play the bottom end of it. what's that called [see the youtube of Bye Bye Bird {Sonny Boy W I think.{]
He also regularly sticks his fingers in the back of the harp to color the tone. I don't know what that's called either. I've tried it; it's subtle, but it works.
MVLUN- OK, how about 'Snot a problem?' for the double entendre.
---------- Nate Facebook
Last Edited by on Mar 17, 2010 11:05 AM
chugging, vamping; definition of tonality. major scale vs. minor scale. blues scale. rythmic patterns. licks, riffs. whoopin' (like sonny terry). "boogie" rythmic pattern. call and response. blue notes. Hell I'll stop the definition list could be extensive. Good food for thought though.
might be called cigar blocking cuz it looks like a nickel stogie ta me. i once saw norton buffalo doing it and he spit the harp out, caught it in mid air, and then cupped it to his shure 545, blowin' like hell without missin' a beat. one of those 'now how did he do that?' moments.
MP- I'm not an overblower. I guess Lee Oskars are squeely on overblows, but they have nice tone, smooth to play, comfortable, nearly indestructible, reasonably priced... only they have these weird holes in the cover that go right through the comb and they catch mustache hair. For a non-overblower with no facial hair they would be my first recommendation for a good harp that will last.
However, as a wearer of facial hair I find about every other day I have to stop everything to carefully extricate myself from their evil clutches.
How would you classify Fox Chases? Are they an early form of harp beat box (harpboxing)? Just for vocalization techniques there a bunch. There are percussive mouth noises that are made with the harmonica in your mouth or near your mouth that don't really come out through the harp, like beats and yelps, then there are vocalizations like wahs and you you yous. There is talking harmonica and talking through your harmonica and onomatopoeia sounds like trains and sirens.
This is going to take longer than I thought!
Shoot. Levy just mentioned contrary motion in his St. Patrick's day video.
OTB Custom Reed Work
---------- Nate Facebook
Last Edited by on Mar 17, 2010 4:59 PM
nacoran, i'm not one of those harp snobs but i have my favs. a lot of guys don't like oscars. i set 'em up for friends but don't get them for myself because they tend to whistle on the #3 draw bends when using very light air pressure. i like the 1896, the SP20, the deluxes and crossovers.
OK, I think I've gotten all the terms you guys suggested and put them into categories. I'll start chipping away at some of them, but feel free to chip in. If you want to define a term, just post the definition below, and I'll cut and paste them in. Same thing if you think of another term. I don't know how to use wiki software or I'd do it that way. Common Embouchure Techniques:
Hybrid Style- Playing the harmonica with a mix of different embouchure styles. Lip Block Lip Pursing/Pursing
Puckering- Playing the harmonica with a pucker shape to your lips and using the lips to select one or more holes for air to flow through. Proponents of puckering believe you can play notes faster this way, and that it is easier to bend notes than with the tongue blocking method. Racking- Playing with the harmonica in an accessory rack. Tilt Blocking- Tilting the back of the harmonica, usually upwards. Ideally this creates a straighter channel for the air and better tone.
Tongue Block- Playing the harmonica tongue-block style involves using the tongue to block holes. Usually the mouth is open far enough to allow air into four holes, three holes to the left are blocked with the tongue, although more advanced tongue blocking also allows for octave splits and contrary motion.
U-Block- U Blocking is done by shaping the tongue into a U shape, with the hole at the center placed over the desired note.
Uncommon Embrouchure Techniques:
Cigar Blocking- Holding the harmonica in your mouth like a cigar. Example: Sonny Boy Williams Bye Bye Bird.
Face Block- Blocking the middle notes on the harmonica with your face so that you can create the opposite (draw/blow) reaction on the high end of the harp from what you are doing on the low end.
Finger Blocking- Related to face blocking, using the right hand to block the 10 hole so the 9 hole sounds. Nasal Block- Playing the harmonica with your nose. (Usually done as a gag.)
Techniques to Produce Pitches: Blow Draw Deep Bend Drawbend Overbend Overblow Overdraw
Breathing Techniques: Circular Breathing
Customizing Terms: Custom Embossing Gapping OTB (also OOTB) - Out of the Box
Reed Work- Harmonica work on the reeds, including tuning, tip scooping, embossing and gapping.
Tip Scooping Tuning Harmonica Shapes:
Tin Sandwich- Examples: Hohner Marine Band, Special 20, Seydel 1847
Moon Shaped- Example: The Golden Melody
Tapered Ends- Example: Hohner Meisterklasse, Seydel Blues Favorite.
Square Ends
Recessed Plates- Harmonicas where the reed plate does not protrude from the front of the harmonica. Example: Hohner Special 20.
Protruding Plates- Harmonicas where the reed plate protrudes from the front of the harmonica. Examples: Hohner Marine Band, Blues Harp, Golden Melody, Seydel Blues Favorite. On some harmonicas protruding reed plates can feel rough on the lips. Custom harmonicas sometimes have the protrusions sanded smooth, particularly at the corners.
Types of Tunings: Richter Diminished Just Equal Compromise
Tone Descriptions: Fat/Thin Bright/Warm Crunchy “Flavoring” (Sounds that flavor your playing. A catch all for just about everything else.): Contrary motion Choking Chugging Cupping Dip Glissing (Glissendo) Hand Vibrato Harpboxing Kiss Popping Lip Popping Octave Blocking Pull Pull Slap Primary & Secondary Embouchure Muscles Slap Slide Split Tongue Talking Harmonica Tongue Smacking Tongue Flutter Toothbrush Vibrato Tremolo Trill Vamping Vibrato Wah-Wah Warble Whoopin'- (Like Sonny Terry)
Theory: Blues Notes Blues Scale Call and Response Licks Major Scale Minor Scale Riffs
Rhythmic Patterns: Boogie Flat Tire Rhythm (Opposite of boogie. The first note is shorter.)
Blues Genres: Chicago Blues Mississippi Blues Delta Blues Southern Blues
Other Terms:
Busking/Buskers/Busk- Busking refers to playing for donations, for instance by passing around a hat or placing an open instrument case on the ground. Different municipalities have different laws on where and when you are allowed to Busk.
Mississippi Saxophone- Another name for a harmonica.
Types of Harmonicas: Diatonic Tremolo Chromatic Bass Chord
Just for Fun:
Mustache Hopscotch- Keeping your mustache from getting caught in one of the four holes in a Lee Oskar harmonica.
Sphincter Blocking- Derogatory term for Pucker Blocking
---------- Nate Facebook
Last Edited by on Mar 18, 2010 9:30 PM
Last Edited by on Mar 17, 2010 2:25 PM