Small victory for a beginner
I picked up a special 20 in the key of C about 7 months ago, been noodling around on the thing pretty much every day since. I've gotten pretty good at playing just about any single note, 1st possition, pucker, song I could come up with, including some pretty good control over bending. However, it wasn't really the sound I'd really like to be making which led me back to this site. I came to realize that the sounds I wanted to make were really dependant on getting some control of my tounge and starting to tounge block. For my birthday early in January I got myself an Marine Band 1896 in the key of A. I came back here and started in on the lessons and started the 'Walk With Me' song from tounge block study one. Things have been progressing pretty good, IMO, and I think I'll submit for my LOA here pretty soon.
However, I've been pretty sad that I was no longer able bend at all. They evaporated like cool water poured on red hot iron. I was baffled by how to get my tounge to pull back and hump up while still touching the comb of the harmonica. I play around, trying to bend every day, for about 5 or so mintues. Then it happened; last Saturday I was playing around with the shape of my mouth while pucker bending the 3 draw kept my mouth in mostly the same shape, extended the tounge and BLAM! 3 draw bent while tounge blocking! I was so excited I ran up and told my wife that I just bent my harmonica and she couldn't understand why this was a good thing (guess I should have found a different phrasing ;) ). I know I still have a long way to go as I have little control and mostly just end up with the full 3 half step bend on the 3 draw, but at least I know I can make my mouth do it :).
with all that, I want to open up this thread as kind of a 'where were you when you got your first tounge block bend'.
Only a couple of years ago when I was starting with BluesHarmonica.com and after working through Level 1 did I discover the bend. I puckered my way through Walk with Me because I could not get my tongue to work and play the harp at the same time.
I would have to echo your struggle and excitement for the "first tongue block" bend. I stuggled finding new ways to move my tongue around in a futile attempt to bend even one note. Humping and arcing it in unnatural ways while trying to block holes at the same time. Really? You have to be kidding me.
And then...... I hit the sweet spot just once on hole 3 like you did. Eureka...tried again and again until it happened for the second time. Like you, I was so excited I had to tell my wife. She was so excited (not) that she did not look up from the Doctor Phil show to give me that "are you serious glance"!!! That came later when my excitement was still there days later when I could now do it on the one hole...ever so slightly mind you but at least I could repeat it.... and I had to show her!!!
Keep at it !!!!!! It gets so much easier over time. it really does. So easy in fact that it becomes a natural thing to do. Soon you will feel the locations in your mouth of where the bends are. For me it is the location of the 'K' sound that determines the bend
This is an important beginning step in the journey of a soulful, texture filled, tongue blocking harp player.
I have been playing for a couple of years now and the bends have become notes to play without a struggling effort. Although it does take a lot of effort and practice to 'dial in the 3 bends on the 3 draw which I continuously work at but the tongue blocking becomes so natural after a while that you will forget your doing it.
John
Now ...if i could just tongue block the blow bends.....I could feel your excitement all over again !!!!!!
I am still at the stage where I know how to bend unless it decides it isn't going to.:)