Tongue Block And Slaps - Temperature Lesson
Mon, 10/22/2012 - 08:47
You show your tongue going to the left for the HAL feel, but then you say use the top of the tongue for the technique?
Also, I am having problems hearing the chord and then the slap in the practice tracks. You mention that they are miked, but for learning the chord and the slap I can't visualize an example to get it into my ears.
You mention to your student to have a chord sound prior to the slap. Do you slide into each note with a chord and then a slap?
Everything else is great. I am concerned about this technique.
Yes, use the top of the tongue, just past the tip of your tongue (called the blade) for all of your tongue blocking. Yes, you will need to aim your tongue slightly left to block holes 1 through 3 and not cover hole 4. To achieve the slap you start with your tongue off the harmonica, start your breath as your tongue moves towards your harmonica (this where the chord comes in) and finish with your tongue in the normal tongue block position, blocking the three holes to the left. In the video I play acoustic and on the MP3 recording I play amplified, so you have both reference points.