[Harp-L] "Sight of Tongue" Revealed

[icemanle@xxxxxxx]

You wish to hear me teach the technique on youtube? 
 
Sorry, don't do the youtube nor even internet sound files. I'm too computer/gear illiterate. 
 
Come for a lesson if you need personal instruction or need to hear me do it - however, this "slight of tongue" stuff is not hard to figure out. The short description in the "Amazing Grace" post pretty much covers it for the drone example in that piece. The hardest aspect is to learn to relax your tongue while controlling it. The tongue is truly the miracle muscle, able to make so many independent movements - it's well worth your time to get to know your tongue intimitely.
 
"Slight of Tongue 101"
 
Pre-Requisite for this course - ability to play LONG TONES. You must also easily play an octave (four holes in mouth, middle two blocked w/tongue) as well as the interval created with three holes in mouth, middle hole blocked w/tongue (kinda tricky at first) and the five holes in mouth with three middle holes blocked w/tongue.
 
For the right side Slight of Tongue technique - Play 1 - 4 hole octave (exhale seems to be easier at first). Sustain the octave. Allow more of the harmonica into your mouth, focus on the right side tone and allow 5 hole to sound, replacing 4 hole. You'll be able to figure out what to do with your slightly expanding tongue through trial and error - relaxed tongue is definitely better than not. Rock back and forth between the 4 and 5 hole, keeping the 1 hole as a drone. Then try it with an inhale.
 
For the left side technique - holes 2 - 5 exhale, more harmonica into mouth expanding tongue on left side to allow hole 1 to replace hole 2 while keeping the 5 exhale as a drone. Follow up same as above. After you get it, try inhaling.
 
Now you've begun. Go back to right side technique and try moving the harmonica out of the mouth and contracting/collapsing the tongue width slightly. Hole 1 is droning, hole 4 moves to hole 3 (giving you an open 5th interval on the exhale). Back and forth. Follow with left side, same MOD, exhale and inhale.
 
There ya go - spend 5 minutes/day on it, stopping immediately if you begin to feel frustrated. 
 
The Iceman
 
 
 
 
-----Original Message-----
From: hqr@xxxxxxx


Larry let's hear it on youtube!
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