David's Tip of the Day: Absolutes - Bending & Tongue Blocking

A dialog on absolutes today. Not that anybody does this, but it's a good thought process...

The two main techniques used (and thus the two main technique areas of study) on the harmonica are bending and tongue blocking.

Someone who uses tongue blocking, but no bending, is focused on textural and rhythmic elements, at the detriment to bluesy pitch content.

Someone who uses single note playing (pucker, U-block or tongue block without using any techniques such as slaps, pulls, flutters, octaves, etc... yes, it's possible to be a tongue blocker and not use any of its signature techniques), but no tongue blocking, is focused on pitch, at the detriment to textural and rhythmic elements.