Re: [Harp-L] Who's "famous" that U-blocks?

["mike@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx" <mike@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

All my conversations with good,better, best players I've run into will attribute U Blocking to some famous name or another.....most have said they tried it but didn't consider them selves U Blockers.

I found I can certainly do it but it seems slow, of course that's without lots of practice.

Seems to me that UBlocking is a Tongue Block Method.....will be interesting to see who chimes in.

  

Mike Wilbur 



On Sep 23, 2012, at 6:52 AM, "Bart van Strien" <knuppel@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> Ha yeah, I wanted to say that :-) Last year I asked Mark Graham (a
> U-blocker) in an email bout something I noticed in his playing, how in the
> world he did the trick of playing notes in the chord below Ãnd above the
> melodie-notes. Very handy in his playing style. Chords around the note
> instead of just below, but also for fast switching between blocking & pucker
> (for example in the higher holes of the hca). Was the first time I heard of
> U-block. Anyways, he told me Norton Buffalo did it as well.
> 
> I'm getting the hang of it (little by little). Its not so easy when you're
> not used to it and played different for very long. Could be handy to have
> all 3 of the techniques though. I do think it sounds a bit thinner than the
> other 2 techniques, but that could just be my observation.
> 
> Bart
> 
> 
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Eric Nielsen" <ericbarnak@xxxxxxxxx>
> To: "Brian Stear" <brianstear@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Cc: <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
> Sent: Sunday, September 23, 2012 7:55 AM
> Subject: Re: [Harp-L] Who's "famous" that U-blocks?
> 
> 
> Norton Buffalo was a U-Blocker.
> 
> Eric
> 
> On Sun, Sep 23, 2012 at 1:37 AM, Brian Stear
> <brianstear@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>wrote:
> 
>> I went to my local bluesfest for their harmonica workshop, hoping to get
>> some tips on some technique questions I have. When someone asked about
>> U-Blocking, the guy said that there wasn't such a thing. I knew better,
>> but
>> didnât say anything out of respect.
>>  I also occasionally do workshops, and Iâd like to drop some names about
>> this when I do. Yâall know more about this than I do.............thanks
>> for
>> any and all help. You can reply either on or off-list.
>> 
>> Brian
>> 
>