Thanks for the info on the "throat wiggle". After posting the question, I realized what technique John was referring to with "pull off". It's a tongue block technique, also referred to as a pull. For example, you have your embochure over holes 1-4 with your tongue covering holes 1-3. As you draw on hole 4, you pull your tongue off the harp and go from playing a single note to a chord.
You can also do this in reverse. While playing a chord, you slap your tongue onto the harp and go from a chord to a single note. This is known as a "slap".
Hi Chops! Your question has got me searching mentally for the answer on "the pull-off". Hopefully, someone out tthere will help answer these questions.
I will search through Jon's books in search of the answer and/or on Google's search engine. I will view Jon's YouTube video too in the meantime.
As far as the "bent throat wiggle" I will try to help you on this one.
Long ago, I saw a veteran blues harp player do this and he had this cool vibrato effect going (sort of like hearing that same shimmering effect on that 60's song "Crimson and Clover" by Tommy James and the Shondells, by the guitar at the very beginning of the song and at the end with the vocals being sung).
He told me to imitate a machine gun and to sound like Elmer Fudd going "uh-uh-uh, uh...".
He had the same kind of shimmering effect Bo Diddly had going with his guitar on his song "Bo Diddley" and on his song "Mona".
It's worth listening to his version of "I'm a Man" for the harmonica being played on this song to inspire you. (It's kinda cool to hear the maraca's being played in the background on this track too.)
If you buy "Classic Bo Diddley" (on MCA) you'll hear this effect, only Bo Diddley played this effect on guitar with a vibrato effect box going.
Why did I mention this? Because the guy who showed me how to do it had a harmonica and NOT an electric guitar and a vibrato guitar effect "stomp box" to do it!
I guarantee this is the kind of thing, once you've nailed it down, if you do this in front of people you regularly jam with, they'll turn around and look at you smiling in surprise!
I hope this helps.
I guarantee once you get the answers on these 2 questions for yourself Chops, you'll never forget 'em!
(What's going to stick out in your mind, will be questions you have and the answers you get. Then later on, these will be powerful memories for you to "soak in".)
Keep me posted on yer results!
I'll be in "search mode" while I'm listening to the Blind Owl from Canned Heat too, in the meantime.
I hope this helps! Enjoy!
-- Edited by onenoteblues on Friday 8th of July 2011 08:51:40 PM
I think I know what a "pull off" is.....your tongue is on the harp covering several holes so that when you draw on the harp, you get one clear single note. While holding the note, you pull your tongue sharply off the harp and go from a single note into a chord. Then you slap your tongue back onto the harp to go back to the single note. Repetition of this technique gives you a percussive sound to your playing.
Soooo.......does anyone know what a "bent throat wiggle" is, and how to do it?
