Difficulty Tongue Blocking Hohner Rocket
This is a question hoping to get insight into my technique (or lack thereof). I am a player who learned in the 60's, playing (competently) on and off my entire life. I am (not unexpectantly given my vintage) an avid pucker player. I have used tongue blocking for incorporating chords and rhythms but now I am making a serious run at tongue blocking more extensively. My progress is slow.
Here is the question: My usual harmonicas are MBDeluxe. I recently purchased a C and A Rocket. I have MUCH greater difficulty tongue blocking single notes and bending using TB. There just seems to be a sense of different spacing but also a feeling that the anterior positioned protruding comb is the source of my difficulty. In the MB (Deluxe) the comb in the front is recessed slightly compared to the reed plates. The protruding comb on the Rocket feels like the culprit. I have tried very deep emboucher to no avail. Pucker bends and play is perfect (though, even at that I will remain a devotee the MBD)
Again, I am not asking so much to get your opinion about the H. Rocket vs MBD. Rather, I thought it would suggest a flaw in my technique in my struggle to become a better tongue blocker. People seem to customarily give rave reviews for the Rocket. So being so difficult for me (not for my pucker playing but for TB) suggests there might be a clue/nugget that could help my TB journey.
Thanks for your help in advance
(H)
You sure are right about not remembering how much time it took back in my youth. But, then again, when you're your 64 you can't remember squat. And that part of my life was a blur (particularly the the 1960's)
I think you may have nailed it with your diagnosis. I am sure I am applying too much force. Why do i say that? When I am playing and I go back to puckering it feels like a rest stop after an uphill jog. There should not be that much differenct in energy expendure. I will experiment.
Your're the very best. Thanks for getting back to me.
H
It sounds like you have the right plan of attack now the then. It's hard to say "relax" when you're working hard on a new technique (especially bending... you'll want to back off on that for a bit as you fix your standard tongue block embouchure). Light touch is an important element for all of your tongue block techniques. If you feel like you have to press your tongue on the face of the harmonica to block all of the holes, then use more of the top of the tongue (which is wider). I also use a slight tilt of the face of the harmonica downward (hole side), this helps as well (it angles your harmonica towards to the top of the tongue and allows you to place the harmonica a bit more in the mouth). Experiment, you'll find the right mixture.
Hello 8ch, welcome to the site.
I started puckering as well... as did many of today's pro's... and we over time incorporated tongue blocking until we were as fluid at everything as we were in pucker, as you are studying now. It takes time and calm perseverance, but you will get it.
Follow my lesson plan, you'll notice that bending while tongue blocking doesn't happen until Tongue Block Study 3, and it's the basic 4'. So, keep working on the TB bend, but be aware that it will take you as long as it did to learn how to pucker bend. Most players like yourself forget how much time it took them to bend well in a pucker, so give it time and enjoy the journey of learning a new technique. The advantage you have now is that you know how it should sound when it's done correctly and you have my lessons... you'll get it faster than us.
In regards to the Rocket...
I have one, and commonly play Marine Bands too. I did not notice an issue with either embouchure when first trying it. I just pulled mine out and played both with what you stated in mind, again without an isssue. I recommend you review the Tongue Blocking Study 2.5 lesson again, focusing closely on the angle of your tongue on the face of the harmonica and using a very light touch. My guess is that you're using too much force with your tongue on the face of the harmonica, this is the only thing that comes to mind as to why the depth of the face of the comb is causing issues for you. Best wishes on this.