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Generally speaking, controlling bends and articulations further back in your mouth will give you a rounder/warmer tone. When articulating, the "K" articulation will help you to achieve a warmer tone (before and after the articulation) than the "T" articulation. You CAN achieve a good tone with "T," just make sure that the middle and back of your tongue is lowered so that you create a tone chamber behind the articulation. But, generally speaking, the more you use "K" or "G" (G is softer) the more of a chance your tone will be bigger.

This is a great reference for the tuning and tonal center of different tuning systems on the diatonic harmonica. Richter by the way is standard tuning. Try, "C" "Richter" "G" "Blues" and it shows a "C Major Diatonic Harmonica," "Richter" as the tuning system, "G" as the key you want to play in (2nd Position) with the root notes of the key highlighted (home base for soloing) and "Blues" as the scale and the scale is listed at the bottom of the page. Try the key of "D" under the "Melody" header and now you're playing in 3rd Position, highlighting "D" as the home base. Very cool. continue reading...

Here's a fun video presented on SPAH's new website covering how the old Kratt Co. made harmonicas. Visit: http://090211d.membershipsoftware.org/content.asp?admin=Y&contentid=41

There are times where we block only one hole with our tongue and times where we block up to five holes with our tongue. Simply stated, the smaller the blockage, focus on more of the front-top of the tongue (which is more narrow) and the larger the blockage, focus on using more of the back-top of the tongue. When playing a 2/4 split, use the tip of the tongue (and a light touch) to block hole 3. For the 1/4 split use the blade of the tongue (on top, behind the tip). For the single 4 draw, use the top of the tongue to block holes 1 through 3. continue reading...