RE: [Harp-L] Lip Block (Was Any Help Out There)

["Eric Neumann" <eneumann@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Dan, respectfully I have to disagree with your inference that tongue
blockers have a better tone. I do agree with the articulation part of it
though.

I am a self taught "U-Blocker" (25+ years) - but, I have seen and heard
great tone from none other than Jon Gindick. When he is playing guitar,
and has to use a rack to demonstrate the harp - he has a very obvious
pucker embechoure. His tone just KICKS arse because he uses a relaxed
jaw, and an open channel from way down deep within. That is how we can
achieve TONE no matter the embechoure.

Nowadays, I mix my embechoure to take advantage of SOME kinds of
articulation... like fast "tuk-e-tuh" stuff I can't get with a U Block.
I also take advantage of pucker to get different "oyoyoy" types of
vibrato - or note shaping effects on my bends - that I just can't
achieve with tongue block. Further, I am also exploring the "natural"
tongue blocking to develop a better chord effect in my rytyhm... so the
lower notes are blocked on the left... anyway....

Other harmonica playing folks like my tone, yeah, but I ain't ever gonna
say it's better than someone else's. I may offer advice on what I think
it takes to achieve it. 

Also, it has nothing at all to do with the length of one's pony-tail...
although this is an understandable correlation. hahaha..

my last bit of .22 cents here - it never hurts to develop more than one
embechoure. I don't think one is better then the other - however - many
pucker guys have converted to TB and said themselves that they would not
go back, or that they wish they had learned that earlier.... c'est la
vie.

>-----Original Message-----
>From: harp-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx 
>[mailto:harp-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Dan
>Sent: Monday, November 15, 2004 2:20 PM
>To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
>Subject: [Harp-L] Lip Block (Was Any Help Out There)
>
>
>
>What about the method where you curl your tongue to get a note?....
>
>  I learned from Jon Gindick's book (16 ys ago) and I started 
>with "finger blocking" at first. This wasn't in the book.  
>
>In order to hear the hole I was trying for, I'd hold my 
>fingers over all others, then blow or draw the open hole.  It 
>gave me an audible target to shoot for when I "puckered" 
>
> I managed to develop a great deal of speed, articulation, and 
>tone with my pucker when I really got to practicing.  But the 
>pucker was not as it had begun.  I think as we develop a touch 
>for the harp, it moves farther into the mouth following the 
>initial "peck on the cheek" pucker, I know I started with.
>
>About 3 years ago I took the advice of one Drew Blood who 
>preached tongue blocking as the gospel.  I re-trained my 
>embouchure painstakingly, and I have to say he was right.  I 
>was a huge skeptic.  (how could you possible bend a note???, I said)  
>
> Ladies and gentlemen, tone is very important to me, and I 
>worked my tail off for tone using both techniques.  There is 
>nothing wrong with NOT tongue blocking. Those of you who 
>persist to resist, don't get upset.   I switch to it sometimes 
>still.  For my money, however, there is no substitute for the 
>strength of tone,and articulation that TB'ing delivers.  But 
>for a beginner.... I say use whatever means necessary to get 
>the single notes.  Just get them. 
>
>
>
>
>		
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