[Harp-L] Tongue Block Bending

[Richard Sleigh <rharp@xxxxxxxxxx>]

One way to approach tongue block bending is to first whistle with  
pursed lips and raise and lower the pitch of the note. Pay attention  
to what you are doing with your tongue while you do this. Now place  
the tip of your tongue on the roof of your mouth just behind your  
upper teeth and off to one side and keep it there. Then start  
whistling again and work at raising and lowering the pitch while you  
keep holding the tip of your tongue in place. Pay particular  
attention to the side of your tongue opposite the side of your mouth  
that you are holding the tip of your tongue on. Move this side toward  
the middle of your mouth, especially near the back. See if you can  
create pitch changes by doing this as you whistle. This is another  
way of changing the size of the vibrating mass of air inside of your  
mouth.

When you start getting dome results with this, then try bending again  
with the harmonica.

It is less complicated to do than to describe. It felt really weird  
to me at first, but I got the hang of it after a while. Have fun!  
Nobody needs to know what you are up to!

Richard Sleigh

shop address:
205 E. Pine Street
Philipsburg PA 16866-1623

814 342 9722 (w)
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