Have you been sold on TBing?
I initially learned how to play the harmonica using the pucker embouchure and I used tongue blocking for all the obvious techniques that require it. As I started figuring out various things on the harmonica, sometimes it was just easier to keep on tongue blocking when transferring from an octave to a single note and other switches of that kind. For a long time tongue blocked bending was out of my reach, but I persisted at it and thanks in no small part to the great material David Barrett has produced here I probably now tongue block far more than pucker. It feels better when I play and it adds great textures and opportunities to produce supporting rhythms.
I was playing the other day for some friends of mine and I played some recordings of mine to some friends on another occasion and they all said the same two things:
1. It sounds like there is some other instrument playing along with you providing a supporting rhythm and
2. I did not know a harmonica could sound like that
Time and again, it shocks me when people still regard the harmonica as a children's toy or curiosity. I have been totally sold on the sound, effectiveness and the sheer necessity of tongue blocking.
Thanks Mr. Barrett.
Have you been sold on it?:)
Me too - started off puckering and switched to tongue blocking after starting lessons here. Bending was tricky for a while, but now I tongue block 100%. I agree with Jon - it's puckering that feels alien now.
I feel exactly the same! I think of the work it took to get blow bending in TB but now it is so natural to play that way. The rhythms and the dynamics sound great!! And whenever I try overblows (so far only 4,5,6) it feels very weird to go to pucker.
I still have not mastered tongue blocked blow bending or overblows, I still have to switch to the pucker method. But sure where is the fun without the struggle? I find with most things harmonica that you look back after you get the hang of a technique and wonder why you found it so difficult at first. I look forward to the day when that happens for blow bending and overblowing
To my ears pucker playing can sound a little hollow and empty once you have experienced the sound of tongue blocking. I am sure it may still have advantages such as speed, but I am sure with time tongue blocking would be right behind it. It also feels better to me as a player. You have more harp in your mouth and have a larger resonating cavity to create your sound and as a result you just connect with what you are playing so much better.
I am not intending to open that old debate of tongue blocking versus puckering at all, but I was just wondering how many people out there made a conscious and permanent switch to the tongue block playing.
Thanks for the responses.
tongue block is cool i started puckering now i'm like 85% tongue block my wah wahs sound better and my bends come alot easier now especially my 2 & 3 draw bends tongue block is awesome
I started out puckering but when I switched to full time tongue block I never looked back. Now the pucker embouchure feels foreign.