slap pull tongue block bass rhythm drive harp harmonica phrase line

Recording material for Accompaniment Study 7 yesterday on the subject of bass lines reminded me of why slaps and pulls are so cool when used together. When playing a line, like what's presented in Solo Harmonica Study 2.1 through 2.3, the slaps found on the downbeat represent the downbeat notes of the bass and the upbeat pull represents the upstroke of the guitar in a swing (think T-Bone Shuffle style guitar accompaniment). The drive this combination creates is one of the great reasons why we learn to tongue block on the harmonica.