Re: [Harp-L] Who U-blocks (embochure wars redux)

[billhines4@xxxxxxxxxxx]

I think every player has their 'primary' technique but incorporates others to get particular sounds whether conscioiusly or subconsciously, whether they admit it or not. I was talking to one guy and he said he puckers, then when he was playing I heard some distinctive slaps/chords. I asked how he did that, he didnt' even know but went through it slowly to investigate and sho'nuff. For those particular sounds, even though he was primarily a puckerer and considered himself so, he was tongue blocking.

someone said butterfield puckered. but you can hear octave splits and things in his tunes that only come with putting the tongue on the harp. so  i guess we mean primarily what embochure, but the big dogs use some of them all I'd bet. I find myself u-blocking sometimes also. 

also there's the important thing that maybe the person who is 'recollecting' is having false memories or is BSing (certainly many bluesmen are guilty of that one, ha). Many old timers have their fabricated tales about being at Theresa's, Woodstock, etc. 

Little Walter was notorious (as was butterfield) for not teaching anyone sh*t, and often these guys would intentionally mislead folks while they were 'teaching'. so who knows. 

Bill Hines
Hershey, PA

 -------------- Original message ----------------------
From: "Matt Smart" <matthewsmart@xxxxxxxxx>
> I don't want to start some big controversy on here...but, I have a theory
> that little walter was u-blocking.  In fact, in his biography, joe lee bush,
> who met walter, said that is how walter taught him how to play.  Joe bush is
> in our harp club in atlanta.  We have had conversations about it.  In our
> recent Mark Hummel workshop here, Hummel also said that besides using
> octaves and other tongue effects, he though little walter was actually
> puckering/lip pursing.  Personally, I think it is u-blocking...you can still
> have good tone doing this.  I think of it as a compromise between puckering
> and tongue blocking. BUT, I could be totally wrong on this.  I don't want to
> start some big controversy on here.  You are welcome to argue with me on
> this...
> 
> On 5/16/07, 46long Blake <46long@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> >
> > I do a fair amount of u blocking (I learned this way way back when), along
> > with TB and pucker (which I've learned relatively recently). I make a lot
> > of
> > use of what I call the "U slap,"  Which I'm sure isn't all that unusual,
> > but
> > I think it adds a really nice fat texture to individual notes
> > (particularly
> > 2 draw). And I OB  with it as well. If anyone's interested, I'll add our
> > version of  "Drop Down Mama" to our myspace site for an example of the 2
> > draw "U Slap," and I'll add "My Baby's Away" in which I do a couple
> > overblows using u block.  I'll do this now, and they'll be up later
> > tonight.
> >
> >
> > Both songs are in the process of final mixing for the new CD. Please
> > remember that I'm not a pro before you get too mean, folks. I'll take both
> > songs down in a couple days because my partner will get grumpy that I put
> > up
> > non-finished drafts.....
> >
> > - Blake
> >
> >
> > On 5/16/07, Michael Peloquin <peloquinharp@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> > >
> > > >From: dennis moriarty <dmoriarty@xxxxxxxxxx>
> > > >Other than Norton. What list members? Pros?
> > >
> > > Jeff Grossberg (Chicago)
> > > Tim Beattie (Nashville)
> > >
> > > Michael Peloquin
> > > http://www.harpsax.com
> > > Come check me out on MySpace at http://www.myspace.com/harpsax
> > >
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> > --
> > Blake Taylor
> > http://46long.com
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