Tongue lowering
Hi Barrett,
I am new to harmonica. I am really really enjoying this website after trying out many.I have a question. You mentioned that for a good embrochure tongue should be lowered.Is this to be followed all the time ? I find it difficult to lower the tongue while tongue blocking as I loose grip onto the holes. I watched a video for fundamentals. Can you please give me your suggestion on how to practise this ?
Regards,Sai.
Hi Barrett,Thank you for your quick reply. Where can I find these lessons with Hob Bosold? Also in one of "walk with me" chorus lessonsyou mentioned to see a vibrato video on this website. Is there a video other than the one in "fundamentals" ? Right now I am just following your study lessons. Are there any other vidoes as supplement to this like the one with Hob Bosold ?
Once agina this site is amazing. I will get more friends on our train :)
Regards,Sai
You can find the lessons with Hob here http://www.bluesharmonica.com/contributor/hob_bosold. This is where you can watch a student go through the same lessons as you, I think you'll find it valuable.
Yes, the Tremolo and Vibrato lesson is here http://www.bluesharmonica.com/lessons/tremolo_and_vibrato
You'll find that I segment the technique lessons for further depth of understanding. The easiest way to find lessons is to go to http://www.bluesharmonica.com/lessons for the complete listing.
Right now you're on the correct path. Maybe looking at an interview or equipment lesson every now and again is a good idea.
Best wishes on your studies.
Being new at I'm trying to get my mouth positioned on the harp correctly it feels like I have more of a heart in my mouth and I can even hold when I tried backing it out and placing my tongue to block holes I'm not getting the blockage I need even moving the harmonica on the sound that I want so I guess what I'm asking is is there more blocking techniques or exercises to help with me getting the blocking down
I'm not sure what your issue is Sbmc.radar. If you can be a little more specific I may be able to help you. Tongue Blocking Study 2.5 (http://www.bluesharmonica.com/lessons/tongue_blocking_study_25) may be of help.
I'm glad you're enjoying your lessons Sai. To be specific, the back and middle of the tongue being lowered will give you a larger resonant chamber in your mouth for better tone production. The top front of the tongue is used for tongue blocking as you know. You'll need to find the right balance between having good tone and enough tongue on the face of the harmonica. I find it useful to tilt the face of the harmonica downwards, which makes it easier to tongue block... I'm bringing my harmonica to my tongue, not so much the tongue to the harmonica, making all this easier to do. If you're not already doing so, watching my lessons with Hob Bosold may be useful since we speak of tone often in our lessons. Best wishes on this.