Tongue blocking
Hi David. I'm new here but the site is terrific. I particularly like the fact that not only to you give video lessons, but you also post the one on one lessons you've given with some of your students. Really helpful.
I have a simple question. Does it matter which side you block on? In other words, if I'm playing the 3 or 4 hole, does it matter if I'm blocking with my tongue in the 11 o'clock postion or the 2 o'clock postion? My tongue seems to favor blocking to the right of the hole I'm playing.
Thanks!
Joel
Thanks, David. I've been working on it and I think I'm getting it down. But I then tried, as per one of your lessons, blowing on the 3 hole while blocking 1 and 2 and then shifting my tongue to the right to blow on the 1. I can't seem to find the 1. It seems I'm mostly blowing the 2 with a lot of hissing, or I just hiss. What am I doing wrong?
Thanks.
Hello jbloom. It's possible you're moving your tongue too far to the right. Try moving very slowly and seeing if the 1 sounds for you.
Welcome to the site Joel. Thank you for your kind words, I'm glad you're enjoy your lessons. Yes, it does. You want your tongue to the left for holes 2 and above. The reason for this is the slap. The first tongue block technique you'll learn is called the slap and it requires your tongue to be to the left. You start with your tongue off of the harp, sound the intended note and the chord below it (lips over holes 1 through 4 for example, ultimately sounding hole 4 when your tongue is placed on the harmonica). As you breath you place your tongue on the harmonica. The result is a low chord supporting the higher note. If your tongue were to the right, you would hear a higher chord lead to that lower note (holes 4 through 7 in our example) and will sound peculiar. The good thing is that hole 1 you play with your tongue to the right, so it's good that you already feel comfortable with that. Give it time, you'll feel comfortable with practice.