Re: [Harp-L] Technique u blocking

[chromboy@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Any Player using only ONE
Embouchure can never realize the full potential the instrument has to offer and the wide variety of styles attainable thru dexterity of these combined techniques.


Let it be written let it be said  -)

Rob P

Sent from my iPhone

On Apr 12, 2013, at 2:46 PM, MARK BURNESS <markwjburness@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> 
> 
> Can anyone point me to the commandment, written in stone, that dictates that anyone who switches embouchure to achieve a certain technique will be smote by a thunderbolt from above? Turned to a pillar of salt perhaps?
>  
> Very, very few players adhere to one single embouchure for everything they do (they do exist & may even be high profile, but are statistically a very small group), most players switch embouchures in normal playing & certainly to facilitate certain effects...it's legal, honest! ;-)
>  
>  
> 
> ________________________________
> From: Eric Miller <miller.eric.t@xxxxxxxxx>
> To: Michael Rubin <michaelrubinharmonica@xxxxxxxxx> 
> Cc: Harp-L <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx> 
> Sent: Friday, 12 April 2013, 15:18
> Subject: Re: [Harp-L] Technique u blocking
> 
> 
> I'll agree with possible, sure.
> 
> I sound like I have a speech impediment when I do it though.  I just did it
> with a harp and noticed it doesn't sound the same as a clean ta or dah done
> from the pucker, its softened and muted a bit.  Also the reed isn't as
> responsive because it's less percussive.  That's just what I observe though
> (and I really use u-block a lot, so I'm part of the club of misfit toys :)
> 
> Just personal observation...we're all different.  I maintain that Tony
> might benefit from trying both ways to experience for himself and have more
> colors in his palette.  Do a few u block tah, dah, kah, then try the same
> pucker and see what you think?
> 
> 
> On Fri, Apr 12, 2013 at 10:11 AM, Michael Rubin <
> michaelrubinharmonica@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> 
>> Eric,
>> Put the tip of your tongue on your bottom gumline.  Now it is in a fixed
>> place.  It cannot hit the roof of your mouth.  Now say ta da!
>> 
>> See, you do not need the tip of your tongue to say ta da.  It may not be
>> as pronounced, but the top middle of your tongue (or at least my tongue)
>> can say ta and da just fine, thanks you.  Again, I say possible.
>> Michael Rubin
>> Michaelrubinharmonica.com
>> 
>> 
>> On Fri, Apr 12, 2013 at 9:04 AM, Eric Miller <miller.eric.t@xxxxxxxxx>wrote:
>> 
>>> maybe not impossible to *approximate* articulation, and certainly you
>>> could do mid tongue articulation like hard K and C sounds.  Agreed.
>>> 
>>> but..say "tah" or "dah" like Tony is asking, without a harmonica in your
>>> mouth.  the tip of your tongue goes to the roof of your mouth on both
>>> sounds without exception.  I'm going to stick with "impossible" for those
>>> sounds, at least for me.
>>> 
>>> The inside of the mouth is weird though, we all know.  Maybe advanced u
>>> blockers like Norton (and heck, maybe you?) can develop a way to
>>> approximate the T and D sounds.  I think we can all agree that just
>>> switching to a pucker makes it a heck of a lot easier, and Tony would do
>>> well to experiment with pucker to solve his problem and become familiar
>>> with the differences.
>>> 
>>> 
>>> On Thu, Apr 11, 2013 at 11:29 PM, Michael Rubin <
>>> michaelrubinharmonica@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>>> 
>>>> Eric,
>>>> It is not impossible to tongue articulate while U blocking, I do it.  It
>>>> does limit the triplet tongueing speed for me.
>>>> Michael Rubin
>>>> Michaelrubinharmonica.com
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> On Thu, Apr 11, 2013 at 7:37 PM, Eric Miller <miller.eric.t@xxxxxxxxx>wrote:
>>>> 
>>>>> you lose a lot of ability when you u block.  It makes your notes clean
>>>>> and
>>>>> easy to jump around....but its really hard to bend, and impossible to
>>>>> articulate as you ask.  That's why I pucker most of the time
>>>>> 
>>>>> norton buffalo could u block and bend, but i think if you want to do any
>>>>> serious articulation...you have to switch to pucker
>>>>> 
>>>>> u blocking is useful, but you may want to consider learning some of
>>>>> all...pucker and tongue block.
>>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>>>> On Thu, Apr 11, 2013 at 8:09 PM, Tony Stephens <tnysteph@xxxxxxxxx>
>>>>> wrote:
>>>>> 
>>>>>> To any other u blockers. Can you do a draw "ta da ta da ta da with u
>>>>>> blocking? I can do it with the pucker. Trying to do what pucker
>>>>> players do
>>>>>> but with u blocking. Any advice please.
>>>>>> Thanks Tony
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> Sent from my iPhone
>>