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Blues Harmonica Jam Camp -> Jon Gindick's Harmonica Jam Camp Forum -> Ask Away! Harmonica Forum -> Veteran tongue blocker wants to pucker
Post Info TOPIC: Veteran tongue blocker wants to pucker
Street Player Dude


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RE: Veteran tongue blocker wants to pucker
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Okay, this might be an older question, older post - But hey, I just got here!

And since there's no answer to the question, figured, why not, better late than never!

The best siggestion I can offer here when trying to find those single notes with a pucker method is to  NOT Keep Your Lips on the Harp!

What does that mean?

Well it's my own Aha-Eureka Moment.  Meaning, learn by puckering the single note octaves first.  Meaning, go from Blow 1, Blow 4, Blow 7 and Blow 10.  Up and back; back and forth.

Then go Draw 1, Draw 4, Draw 7 and Draw 10.  Up and back; back and forth.

What does all this do?

Well when learning, you have no choice but to take your lips off and above the harp in order to move it and hit the octave notes just right!

Now Howard Levy as others does/do suggest that you move around the harp when learning note/hole placements too.  Yet nobody ever said you couldn't take your lips off the harp in order to do so!

Well until now I guess.

Sure, if learning dictates that you have to 'look and see' where you going - Okay fine.  Do so.  Whatever it takes, eh?

But eventually, work to achieve this all smoothly and quickly with EYES Closed!  That way you can't cheat!  hehehehe!!!

But yes, go ahead and try it. 

First, build up your confidence and experience as you jump around the harp with lips off and hitting the holes right on.  Then eventually, with full lips on, you can begin playing simple middle register 3/4-7/8 songs.  And with a little effort should find you're doing it all now without even thinking about it!

Hope this helps!

Smiles!

Keep on harpin'! aww





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"Play the notes people want to hear!" -- Kinya Pollard, The Harpsmith.

Stay Thirsty My Friends!  ;)
DutchBones


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I'm not sure what you are practicing to get those clean notes, but playing scales... even simple scales like "do-re-mi"  etc with or without bending should get you one your way... or...

(D1= Draw hole 1, B1 = Blow hole 1)

D1 D2 D1 D3 D1 D4 D1 D5 D1 D6 - D2 D3 D2 D4 D2 D5 D2 D6 D2 D7 - D3 D4 D3 D5 D3 D6 D3 D7 D3 D8 etc

B1 B2 B1 B3 B1 BB4 B1 B5 B1 B6 - B2 B3 B2 B4 B2 B5 B2 B6 B2 B7 etc


Or... 

take a riff or a short part of a song you know well and try to play it puckering until it sounds clean and feels comfortable...

Or play along with Jon on these videos




and of course.. Jon's book

Hope this helps...




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DutchBones, "Keep Drawing 'Till it Bends"
Zardoz


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I do both but you don't need to. Dennis Grueling (sp) is a dedicated tongue blocker as is David Barrett. I don't think one is any better than the other, you just increase your musical flexibilty by being able to do both but I am not sure that makes you a BETTER harmonica player per se. You just have to give yourself more than several weeks to undo 15 years of dedication to tongue blocking.

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Tenortim


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OK, I learned to play harp about 15 years ago. I picked up a little Mel bay's book "Fun with the Harmonica" and started going at it. This book teaches that tongue blocking is the best method and only mentions the pucker method in one sentence. Well, I quickly became comfortable with the tongue blocking and have been playing this way ever since. Now I'm finding that more and more players are saying that the pucker method is far more versatile and is the best (and easiest) method to learn. Well from a veteran tongue blocker's point of view... switching to the pucker method seems more like re-learning to walk, only on your hands this time! I've got the single note pucker just fine... I have no problems making clear single notes.... my problem is more with moving or navigating up and down the harp. I'm used to "feeling" where I am with my tongue... how do I know exactly where to stop? I always have to make a quick correction when jumping down a few holes. The note isn't instantly clean... it's usually a little or the neighboring hole right at first until and adjust to compensate. I've been practicing for several weeks now and this issue doesn't seem to be getting better... anybody got any suggestions?  
thanks,
Tim

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