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Free Sample Lessons
After watching the BluesHarmonica.com overview video, try one of the lessons below to experience a lesson at BluesHarmonica.com.
- Tongue Blocking Study 2 – This study is for the newer player or the player new to tongue blocking
- Bending Study 5 – This is for the advanced player looking to improve their bending skills
Bending with a tongue block changes one of the two key components of bending:
1) sizing your oral cavity to tune to the bent note
2) activating the tuned chamber with narrowing of the airflow.
The main activation point for both embouchures is the K-spot - the place where you form the "K" sound by raising your tongue to the roof of your mouth.
When you bend with a free tongue, you can slide the K-spot forward or back in your mouth, and this defines the length (and therefore the size) of the tuned chamber. You can also roll the front of you tongue upwards to move the activation spot farther forward than you can if you stick to the place on the tongue where you make the "K" sound.
When you bend with your tongue on the harp, the K-spot does not have as much range of forward ad backward motion, and you don't have the option of forming an activation point toward the front of the tongue. What to do?
You do have the option of raising and lowering part of your tongue between the tip and the K-spot area. For instance, when I play a tongue-blocked high blow bend (Hole 8 on a C-harp) I find that my tongue is touching the roof of my mouth immediately behind the front teeth. As I move down through Holes 8, 7, 6 (switching to draw bends), 5, and 4, I find that less of my tongue is raised to the roof, allowing me to for a bigger chamber to favor lower notes.
In Hole 5, I find that I can play the draw bend just by constricting the air flow at the K-spot without otherwise changing my tongue position.
Hope this helps.