Re: [Harp-L] Tongue-locating

[Tony Stephens <tnysteph@xxxxxxxxx>]

I am a u blocker and I do not use the tip of the tongue, but the u shape helps me somehow. I want to pucker and I am working hard at learning. I also want get into tongue blocking at some point. Big question Is there a right way to play the harmonica? Ha-ha, this is why I think I will always be learning. Tongue Blocking, Pucker, U Blocking, Tongue Tipping there maybe more. Anybody got another?
 Tony
Sent from my iPhone

On Oct 13, 2012, at 11:28 PM, Mike Best <mike.d.best@xxxxxx> wrote:

> I know exactly what you mean Robert. I taught myself how to play about 30 years ago with Tony Glovers book as my only guide. I started as a puckerer and I got into the bad habit of using the tip of my tongue to find the hole. it took me years to break that habit and convince myself that I knew where the holes were and could hit them accurately without using my tongue
> 
> Tongue blocking is another matter altogether. I'm trying to become more of a tongue blocker but after 30years the pucker habit is proving very hard to break
> 
> So yeah, I agree you should ask your students to try and avoid finding the hole with the tip of their tongue coz they'll only have to break the habit later
> 
> Cheers
> Mike
> 
> On 13/10/2012, at 11:57 PM, Robert Hale <robert@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> 
>> Let me clarify:
>> 
>> Tongue-locating, with the tip of the tongue in the single hole about to be
>> played.
>> 
>> Robert
>> 
>> 
>> On Sat, Oct 13, 2012 at 12:01 AM, Matthew Smart <matthewsmart@xxxxxxxxx>wrote:
>> 
>>> I teach them all how to tongue block! Robert was a great teacher to me and
>>> is a much more versatile player. However, I found personally, that it was
>>> more natural to me to tongue block and also because I all ever wanted to do
>>> well was play blues. That is still all I want to do. It took me about 2
>>> years to complete the transition to tongue block but I am so glad I did.
>>> 
>>> Now when i have a student i give them the choice. I play them the opening
>>> lick to Little Walters Cant Hold Out Much Longer pucker version and then
>>> tongue block with slaps and octaves.
>>> 
>>> Then I say which one would they like to sound like?
>>> 
>>> On 10/13/2012 2:29 AM, Robert Hale wrote:
>>> 
>>>> I discourage students from learning the harp by feeling the intended hole
>>>> with the tip of the tongue just before playing
>>>> (tongue-locating) because I've seen it make new students forever
>>>> over-cautious. They become afraid to play (without it) for fear of making
>>>> a
>>>> mistake.
>>>> 
>>>> The ONLY time I might use tongue-locating is in the recording studio when
>>>> I
>>>> want to insure a clean start on next take.
>>>> 
>>>> What experience do you, students and teachers, have with this technique?
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> Robert Hale
>>>> 
>>>> Spiral Advocate
>>>> 
>>>> Learn Harmonica by Webcam
>>>> 
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>>>> 
>>>> http://www.youtube.com/**DUKEofWAIL <http://www.youtube.com/DUKEofWAIL>
>>>> 
>>>> http://www.dukeofwail.com
>>>> 
>>>> https://www.facebook.com/**DUKEofWAIL<https://www.facebook.com/DUKEofWAIL>
>>>