Kim Wilson warble
Hello David.
I find myself learning just as much from the artist interviews as I do from your lesson materials. With that said, in his interview Kim talks about the evolution of his warble techinque and demonstrates using his tongue and split octaves. I know that split octave warbles are played in "the split" but I'm curious if you have any other material or recommendations on the technique Kim uses.
Thanks!
Peter Allen Jensen
Kim Wilson's Early Years, Part 2 - Technique and Conviction
thank you
Thanks Peter.
Kim goes side-to-side, what I call a side-flutter. I mention it in Tongue Blocking Study 4, and Tongue Block Study 2.5, I believe, but I don't personally do the side-flutter, so I'm not the best person to ask. It's one of those techniques that not everyone can do. When teaching a student, the people that are "wired" to do that technique can do it fast, and even, from the get-go. For others, like me, Gary Smith, Mark Hummel, and many others I know, they've worked on it for decades, but can only sustain it for a little bit of time before their technique falls apart quickly.
With this said, there are many ways to approach it. As Kim mentions, and Joe Filisko, you can have the tip of your tongue stay stationary on the face of the harmonica, and the middle of the tongue moves side-to-side. This can be done with your mouth surrounding four holes (typically an interval of an octave), or three holes (typically an interval of a 5th). You can also move the front of your tongue side-to-side, and if you use just the tip of the tongue, when you move side-to-side, you get more of a chordal effect.
Experiment with these and see what sounds you can create. You may want to check Winslow Yerxa's and Dennis Gruenling's material, they may have some tips as well.
Thanks David!
Hello Peter. Can you please tell me which video this is in, and at what time. I don't use the term warble, so I'm not sure if you're speaking of what I call shakes (technically a trill) or side-flutter. Thanks.