Re: [Harp-L] Re: Chromatic Harmonica Chords

Tom Baehr <tombaehr@xxxxxxxxxxx> · Sun, 5 Aug 2007 17:13:08 -0400

On Aug 5, 2007, at 2:55 PM, Cheechmail@xxxxxxx wrote:
I have been playing chromatic harmonica for a number of years. I  
like the

semi classical numbers like , Malaguana,Rhumanian Rhapsody, etc.

I have always used the tongue lying on the left mouthpiece,  
covering notes

so that I play the single note on the right. When I play chords, I  
usually keep

 my tongue in the middle and play the chord on the left as well as  
the chord

on  the right. Lately I seem to get a better sound by just playing  
the chord

on the  right without the tongue resting on the harmonica.

I do not know if this makes sense, but does anyone have any advice  
as to

which is the better way to play a group of notes?

Wow! You must get a very full sound on chords. What you're doing with  
your tongue for single notes is called "Right Tongue Block." It never  
occurred to me until this very moment that "Right" refers to where  
the hole is that you're playing. It's a teeny bit counterintuitive.
Anyway, playing the chord to the right seems like the logical thing  
to do, seeing as you're already there. I still tongue block some of  
the left-side holes, depending on how much of the chord I want to sound.
About the only time I play out of the left corner of my mouth is when  
I'm playing octaves; and then I do as you started out. I play out of  
both corners of my mouth to get just the two notes. If I were more  
skilled on the left, I could Corner Switch for wider leaps, and avoid  
moving the harmonica around so much.
Really, anything you do that sounds good is legit, IMO, as long as it  
doesn't require standing on your head (so to speak).
I hope this helps.
Tom