Tongue placement
Hi Dave....When you FIRST put your tongue on the harmonica to get a single note tongue blocking, where should your tongue be placed. I understand not directly over the holes, but maybe just below the holes or little below the holes touching top cover plate or little below the cover plate? The question is: What is the feeling and LOCATION of your tongue when you FIRST make contact with your harp? Thx, John
Hi Dave,
I'm new here and probably you've answered this a thousand times, but I couldn't find it on the forum (actually I couldn't find a search tool either).
Which holes will be blown/drawn by the tongue placed to right and which will be blown/drawn with it to the right?
Being more specific: I'm still at TB study 1, first chorus, in this case (3/4+/4/5+/5/6+) I'm assuming my embouchure will cover holes 3-6 and the tongue is placed to the right (3), then a move the harmonica one position to the left, keep the tongue (4+/4), then again harp-left, tongue-right (5+/5) and again up to 6. Then I move back the harmonica to embouchure 3-6 but this time place the tongue to the left and start over (In this case, by the end, the tongue will be blocking holes 2, 1 and that little spot before the harp's edge).
Am I correct?
Is this what you mean by tongue switching?
Many thanks!
Regards
Hello Gustavo. Your tongue will be to the left for holes 2 and above, and to the right for only hole 1 (you’re correct, this is called tongue switching). Chorus 2 of “Walk With Me” will show you how to do this. Let me know if I can be of further assistance.
Great! Thanks for the prompt and precise response!
Another question since you mentioned a more advanced video. Should I watch all the videos related to a song once before start practicing and then start the training process or should I master one before jump to the next?
Once again many thanks!
My pleasure Gustavo. It's not necessary, but that's what I personally do when learning... it's great to see the whole picture before beginning a study.
P.S., All of the teaching (Blues Harmonica Fundamentals and Tongue Blocking Study 1) show to have your tongue to the left while playing. The only time tongue switching is mentioned, up to your study point, is in Exercise 1.1 for tongue agility. Was it that exercise that started the confusion? Let me know... if it did, I want to amend it as to not confuse future students. Thank you.
Great! I'll do that.
Actually I reviewed some of the videos and the PDF and it's pretty straight forward stating the tongue should be to the left.
I believe my mistake was due to watch some free lessons surfing around YouTube, before buying the harp and starting your classes. They teach the tongue should block either sides, so I got "suggested" and assumed that I would put it to the right to block 6/7 while using 4/5 and put it to the left to block 4/5, while using 6/7, avoid moving too much the harp to keep the embouchure. The PDF of "walk with me" states the tongue switching would be one of the things learned and I assumed it would be from the beginning (chorus 1).
I should have paid more attention and definitely need to let go this concepts before watch your lessons.
Thanks again!
PS: back to the practice. It's been 3 days, I'm struggling with the excessive pressure of the tongue I'm putting. I need to focus on keep everything relaxed and loose.
Okay, thanks for letting me know. Yes, a light touch is important... keeping working it, you'll get it.
Hi David,
First of all, this course you put together is great. You are an excellent teacher!
So, I am at the point where I'm adding slaps and pulls... but I have started to notice that when I'm tongue blocking my jaw is also aiming left. This is not due to the slaps or pulls; my jaw naturally wants to lead my tongue to the left while I am playing (jaw moves to the right while tongue blocking hole 1).
Is this common? And - if this is a bad habit that should be stopped early on... any tips?
Thanks!
Hi David,
First of all, this course you put together is great. You are an excellent teacher!
So, I am at the point where I'm adding slaps and pulls... but I have started to notice that when I'm tongue blocking my jaw is also aiming left. This is not due to the slaps or pulls; my jaw naturally wants to lead my tongue to the left while I am playing (jaw moves to the right while tongue blocking hole 1).
Is this common? And - if this is a bad habit that should be stopped early on... any tips?
Thanks!
Hello themikemack. Thank you, I’m glad that you’re enjoying your studies.
Your jaw should not be to the left. It is common to have your jaw follow your tongue. The fix is to take the harmonica out of your mouth in front of a mirror and practice placing your tongue to the left (reminder 1 O’ clock angle... you shouldn’t be using the side of your tongue), as you focus on not moving your jaw. This is usually pretty easy to do when the harmonica is out of your mouth... the eyes help a lot. Then practice again in front of the mirror, but with the harmonica in your mouth, visually confirming that your jaw is not moving. Do this as much as you can throughout the day to train your jaw. You’ll get it, it’s just reps over time.
Thanks for the quick response!
Hello Jthyker69. My tongue is on the holes, using the top of my tongue, right behind the tip, with the tongue aimed slightly to the left (at an 11 o'clock angle). I do feel it touching the lower reed plate, the holes, and the upper reed plate, so I do feel a lot on the top of my tongue. I hope this helps.