Matzen
1 post
Jan 26, 2011
12:43 AM
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I am just starting to get into full time tongue blocking. I was wondering if someone could tell me where on the harp is it common to switch the side your tongue in order to play lower notes? I've had my tongue on the left side of my mouth for holes 3 thru 10, and then switch to having my tongue on the right for holes 1 & 2. I've been having trouble anytime I have to switch between the 3 & 2, or 3 & 1 for example. Are there any "rules" or tips that might help me out with this? Thanks much!
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Matzen
2 posts
Jan 26, 2011
2:26 AM
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After finding a little more info on tongue blocking, it seems that most full time blockers only switch tongue position for hole number 1. Is this a good way to go about it? Any opinions would be great!
Thanks!
Last Edited by on Jan 26, 2011 2:27 AM
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7LimitJI
359 posts
Jan 26, 2011
3:32 AM
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I'm a full time blocker.
I don't switch at all. I play the 1 hole lipped.
Some players rest their tongue at the end of the harp when playing hole 1.
The majority lip holes 1 to 3 and tongue the rest.
Tongue switching is a good technique to learn to enable faster/easier playing of licks involving jumps from hole 1 or 2, to 5 or 6 etc.
Its not essential,but it would help
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The Pentatonics Myspace
Youtube
"Why don't you leave some holes when you play, and maybe some music will fall out".
"It's music,not just complicated noise".
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belfast_harper
216 posts
Jan 26, 2011
4:43 AM
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I switch for hole one most of the time, but I sometimes don't switch or lip purse it depending on the licks I am playing.
I think you need to tongue block the bottom holes on the harmonica so that you can sound the chords in between notes, this means that you can produce the tongue slaps and pulls that give the tongue blocking sound.
I also get better tone blocking the lower holes, but that might not be the same for everyone.
Last Edited by on Jan 26, 2011 4:43 AM
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colman
13 posts
Jan 26, 2011
5:55 AM
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any thing that works is good for me,above hole six, i cover the bottom half of the hole with the tip of my tongue,with this i can have less air force and more resonance moving the back of the tongue,i do this for fast runs and switch to other positions for bends etc.
Last Edited by on Jan 26, 2011 5:57 AM
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Ant138
758 posts
Jan 26, 2011
10:08 AM
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I lip purse hole 1 but Tongue block from the 2 hole up. Belfastharper is spot on with being how important it is to be able to Tongue block the lower holes.
Those slaps and pulls are really important to get the Tongue blocking sound and Tongue slapping the 2hole gives you great rythmic possibilities . I also think it gives me better tone aswell especially amplified.
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http://www.youtube.com/user/fiendant?feature=mhum
Last Edited by on Jan 26, 2011 10:09 AM
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mr_so&so
399 posts
Jan 26, 2011
10:21 AM
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I tongue switch to play the 1 hole. I started off LPing the 1 hole when I began TBing, but decided to go the whole Monty and give switching a go. It was very awkward at first, but I'm glad I did, cause you can get a cool slap on the 1 hole that way, and it makes those octave jumps from 1 to 4 nice and easy.
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Matzen
3 posts
Jan 26, 2011
10:19 PM
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Thinks for the tips! I'm digging the "full monty" switching on the one. I just wish I could bend while tongue blocking! It seems like it's going to take for ever!
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Shoulders
44 posts
Jan 26, 2011
10:41 PM
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Hi Matzen
I'm a full time tongue blocker. As I remember it the three hole draw bend was my first success. Just my opinion but try getting a clean, relaxed 3 draw then play around with moving the back of your tongue / throat.
Its gonna sound terrible to start (same as when we learnt bends lip pursing) but from that choked, off pitch noise will come an accurate bend.
Others will probably diasagree but the three hole was my eureka moment.
Happy to hook up over Skype sometime and work on it (James Aldcroft UK)
Regards
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