Re: [Harp-L] Pucker vs u blocking

[Eric Miller <miller.eric.t@xxxxxxxxx>]

well then....u blocker's unite!

I just watched a video of Norton Buffalo...fantastic stuff.
Your video of all 12 positions was pretty sick too....

I can't believe I'm about to say this:  "I'll work on my u-block bend when
I get home" lol


On Thu, Feb 7, 2013 at 1:50 PM, Michael Rubin <
michaelrubinharmonica@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> Eric,
> Norton Buffalo was 100% ublock for single notes.  His bends were great.
>
> I use u blocking for single notes on the chromatic, including bends.  I
> use it for holes 7 thru 10 on the diatonic part of the time, including
> bends.
> Michael Rubin
> Michaelrubinharmonica.com
>
>
> On Thu, Feb 7, 2013 at 12:39 PM, Eric Miller <miller.eric.t@xxxxxxxxx>wrote:
>
>> We may both get ridiculed here...but I also use ublocking on some single
>> notes, and have gotten pretty good at it for single note pattern runs at
>> speed, and for jumping up to a big high note from down low.  I'll use the
>> U
>> block to find the note first, then quick switch to pucker to bend/trem the
>> note (so I cut my notes in half time sig wise...half becomes quarter, etc)
>>
>> I can't bend u blocking (at least not as fully/cleanly as you can from a
>> pucker), so its utility is limited for me.  I suspect nobody can get
>> really
>> good at bending in the u block, so its really only useful for short
>> pattern
>> runs on blow/draw naturals.
>>
>> I look at it like this:
>> pucker for normal playing
>> TB for when you want that cool accompaniment/effects (I'm still learning
>> TB
>> btw...no reall skills here yet)
>> u block as a crutch when you need it until you can pucker what you are
>> u-blocking
>>
>> beware the TB nazis that will say you must TB your single notes to be a
>> real harmonica player.  Jason Ricci, John Popper and many others play
>> pucker most of the time.  (Jason switches to TB for the effects when he
>> wants it, and John Popper replied "what's that" when asked if he TB'ed)
>>
>>
>> On Thu, Feb 7, 2013 at 1:23 PM, Tony Stephens <tnysteph@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>>
>> > Just want to get some input. U blocking is how I started, it came easy
>> to
>> > me. Single notes no problem with the U.
>> > The pucker is great for articulation. Can do the Tat Tat Tat's easier,
>> > much easier. Bending comes easier, but I am still working at bending.
>> > Here is where I need advice, some people say do what comes easy, some
>> say
>> > I need to learn the pucker.  Can you use both? Tongue blocker's talk
>> about
>> > using both pucker & TB.
>> > Advice please. Thanks all, Tony Stephens
>> >
>> > Sent from my iPhone
>> >
>>
>
>