[Harp-L] Speaking of corner switching

[Winslow Yerxa <winslowyerxa@xxxxxxxxx>]

Corner switching, and the skills that support and extend it - are
included as a part of my series of articles at 

http://harmonicasessions.com

The series is titled "Chromatic for Diatonic Players," but the
techniques described work for both chromatic and diatonic.

To alternate between playing out of the right corner and the left
corner, you need to be able to play an entire melody out of either
side, left or right. Anything one side can do, the other side should do
equally well, in all registers of the harp, and with the same tone,
articulations, bends, and anything else. Switching back and forth can
then be done with full confidence and flexibility. Having a dominant
(strong)side means having a weak, poorly developed supporting side, and
what's the point of that?

The associated skills of playing split intervals - notes or chords on
both sides of the tongue simlutaneously extends the possibilties of
corner switching. So do the various chordal texture techniques done
with the tongue - rakes, shimmers, lifts, slaps, and hammers.

Corner switching describes one apect in a continuum of enbouchure
capabilities that allow the tongue to do on the harmonica mouthpiece
what a hand does on the piano keyboard or on the strings and
fingerboard of a guitar. Why play with one finger when you could have
two, or three, or five?

The series at harmonicasessions.com presents simple exercises and audio
examples that let you sample and learn the basic embouchure skills
described. It's not an exhaustive method - there isn't space for that.
But it should give you an idea of how to develop your abilities with
these important and powerful techniques.

Winslow

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