I am learning a song that is played in a minor key. At first I was using single notes and some double stops into my playing and it sounded fine. Then I tried to incorporate some tongue blocking (tongue slaps or pulls) into the song, and that sounds terrible.
I guess it's probably because a group of blow notes makes a major chord and a group of draw notes makes a major seventh.
My question is:
Is the use of tongue slaps or pulls generally avoided when playing minor tunes?
I think what you call tongue blocking or as some call them tongue slaps or pulls, I've usually known them as tongue rolls, they work if you're playing a true octave, but in positions outside of 2nd or 3rd, in terms of chording or double stops, not always a good idea. ---------- Sincerely, Barbeque Bob Maglinte Boston, MA http://www.barbequebob.com CD available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bbmaglinte
This topic also ties into whether one prefers ET harps or compromise tuned harps.
If you are playing in positions higher than third, there are few available chords that will work. So tongue lifts don't sound good. Also, if you are playing a JI or compromise tuned harp, some of the single notes will sound out of tune (flat) playing in positions higher than third.
So, if you routinely play in positions higher than third, many of the tongue blocking techniques simply won't sound good. And since you are not able to playing chords in those higher positions, ET harps will sound better (more in tune).
