Tongue blocking vs tongue curling
I have been playing for many years - but with very limited techniquesl I'm one of those people who can curl their tongue and I play almost entirely using the tip of my tongue on the bottom of the harmonica to direct air in and out to one of more notes.
Am I cursed with this well-engrained playing approach or can it be used to plan the same solefull licks as you teach? Tongue blocking is proving difficult for me since I've played so long "curled"?
I started by lip-pursing. Then I learned what I thought was tongue blocking, only it was U blocking/tongue curling. Then I purposely switched to tongue blocking. It took me about 2 months of practice. It's a bit annoying at the beginning, but it can be done. Using the 3d-printed tongue block trainer should probably make switching easier.
Hello CALEB1. Since you've been playing this way for a long time, and thus it's engrained, I would say stay with the U-block. You can still do tongue block slaps (Tongue Block Study 3) and flutters (Tongue Block Study 3) that way... no change in technique. For the octave (Tongue Block Study 4), you'll need to experiment to find a way to block the two middle holes without air shooting through the center. For the pull (Tongue Block Study 3), flatten out your tongue on the face of the harmonica (without pushing too hard on the face of the harmonica). Experiment to match the sound of the techniques I'm teaching. John Nemeth plays this way (and Norton Buffalo did). If it works(ed) for them, it will for you. Feel free to ask questions along the way.