The Strut, Tongue-Switching
Hi David...I am working on The Strut right now. Tongue-switching is a new technique for me. Hole one is played a lot in the first two choruses. So, I just wanted to confirm with you that when I play hole one on this song that I should be tongue switching.
Right at the end of chorus one there is a segment that includes holes two, one, and then two again, drawing, in rapid succession. Is it possible to play this by tongue-switching? In the video you mention that you could play it without tongue-switching. I can play it up to speed, without tongue-switching. Should I continue practicing this segment by tongue-switching, in the hope that I will eventually be able to play it up-to-speed by tongue-switching?
Harmonica Homer.
Hi David...Thanks for the answer. I will continue to work on my tongue-switching. I guess it's like any other muscle and will get stronger with practice. I have worked with your books for many years and began seriously tongue-blocking when you recommended it in "Basic Blues Harmonica Method" (which I purchased in 2001). Although you briefly cover tongue-blocking in your books, I don't recall anything on tongue-switching. Doesn't matter, the books are great and did a lot to inspire me! Tongue-switching is now a part of my vocabulary.
H.H.
It's the just the evolution of things... through my consistent study of blues harmonica and teaching it every day I refine my approach. Just keep in mind that tongue switching for the 1 is a preference and is not worth TONS of practice. If someone is new to the harmonica... I like the sound of the 1 a little bit more in a tongue switch and it offers some interesting options... but it's really splitting hairs with the 1. Keep up your hard work!
I am a beginner. Prior to discovering your website (and taking out a subscription because of the very thorough lessons and the wealth of info and material), I had made quite good progress using the pucker technique. Now that I try to switch my technique to tongue blocking, I have tremendous difficulties to go from hole 3 to hole 1, hole 2 and reverse. It all has become very confusing and I am really struggling to get it right. I ask myself the question: is it worth it to switch to tongue blocking? Obviously you are going to reply "yes", especially because I am a beginner. Nevertheless, learning the harp should be a pleasure rather than a frustration; how can I find back the pleasure in learning the blues harp?
Henk
Good morning Henk! Nowhere on the site do I state for anyone to re-learn the harmonica in all TB. For a beginner... just starting... it makes perfect sense to TB everything... this is a no-brainer... saves tons of grief down the road. I do mention in some places (and you'll hear this from artists in their interviews), that if someone loves traditional 1950's blues harmonica (and especially pre-war), then the more TB you can do the better... so some players decide to take the plunge sooner than later.
For someone like yourself, add tongue blocking for what it does... slaps, pulls, octaves, flutters, etc. Now you have the best of both worlds. As time goes on you'll decide where you want to pucker and TB. If you decide to switch to all TB down the road... cool... dig in (the biggest challenge is relearning to bend in a tongue block).
Now, on to your main point... tongue switching for hole 1. This is a VERY small detail... feel free to pucker the 1... I do most the time. Where it's really cool is in tongue switching for the V-IV-I lick... fun stuff.
P.S., the Filisko TB Trainer is killer for this... I was just working with someone with the same issue less than 24 hours ago and he had dialed in two minutes on what he needed to do.
Best wishes on your studies and enjoy the path, not the destination.
Henk, to encourage you : reading through your post I remember how frustrating it was for me to learn TB playing.
Everybody who learned the pucker way and finds out about TB goes through the same thing. Yes , it's very frustrating but ask yourself this ; Do I want to have the same sounds and possibilities in my playing as the players I enjoy listening to? If the answer is yes then you have no choice then to learn TB and accept that it can be frustrating.
You don't have to play everything TB but once you'll get the hang of it you'll have a much richer sound with the slaps and octaves and all those techniques. A world of new possibilities shows up and it's very very rewarding.
Just practise it every day untill you have that first click in your mind where your thinking : aaaaah, now I'm getting it. After that you'll be able, with time, to perfect the TBing little by little. The most difficult thing is to get good rich sounding single notes. But believe me, if you'll keep practising it untill you'll get it you'll be very glad you did. Just practise, it takes time but you'll get it. Try to visualize what your tongue is doing and visualize what your tongue should be doing and adjust. Be relaxed and don't use much force. Be aware of what happens in your mouth.
Good luck and don't give up. ( Unless, maybe, you want to sound like Jason Ricci and be able to play very fast. But in my opinion speed is nothing and tone is everything. Of course that does not mean that pucker players don't have good tone etc etc )
Thanks for the insight Jack Black... it's valuable to hear what others have gone through.
Thanks Jack; indeed, I am starting to do better and have decided to "bite the bullet".Greetings,
Henk
Thank you David; I'm doing better now and even get the 1 hole switch reasonably well, althoug switching from a 2 blow to a 1 draw and back makes my 1 draw sound much louder (and a bit out of tune I believe) than the 2 blow.
I discovered that, depending on the time of day that I pick up the harp, the sound is better or worse than the previous time. I have a faint idea that it has to do with my tongue being swollen or not or not being able to get the base of the tongue down to allow sufficient space. Any suggestions how to verify and practice this, except for looking in the mirror?
Thanks,
Henk
You're on the right track with the mirror idea. Also make note of your jaw position... keeping that consistent will help. Generally speaking, the jaw should be dropped, like in a slight yawn... this will ensure big tone, but the tongue is responsible for most tone issues... again we can't see it, but assume it's humped up somewhere in the mouth to cause the issue.
I guess this is probably not the correct forum thread, but i want to raise the question anyway; when listening to the original work of Robert Johnson, I cannot find the correct harmonica key. Is there a simple way to identify the key of the song to find the harmonica key?
I know it is probably a (deadly) sin to try and play along with Robert Jonson's songs, but nobody listens when I try!
I believe he is the root of all blues!
Robert Johnson's music is fantastic... figuring out how to blow harp to it will be a great exercise. Watch these lesson in Contributor Ryan Walker's section...
Lesson 5 - Figuring out the Key of a Song, Method 1: 2 Draw
Lesson 5 - Figuring out the Key of a Song, Method 2: Positions
Lesson 5 - Figuring out the Key of a Song, Method 3: C Scale
Lesson 5 - Figuring out the Key of a Song, Method 4: Chromatic Scale
Lesson 5 - Figuring out the Key and Position of a Harmonica in a Song, Part 1
Lesson 5 - Figuring out the Key and Position of a Harmonica in a Song, Part 2
It's your choice. If you normally tongue switch for the 1, then do so in this song. Students who follow my material from the beginning (beginners) tongue switch. Those who come to me already playing tend to have a preference in this regards... many pucker the 1. Yes, you can play up to speed on that lick tongue switching... with practice. So, it's up to you.