Re: [Harp-L] Technique u blocking

[MARK BURNESS <markwjburness@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Can anyone point me to the commandment, written in stone, that dictates that anyone who switches embouchure to achieve a certain technique will be smote by a thunderbolt from above? Turned to a pillar of salt perhaps?
 
Very, very few players adhere to one single embouchure for everything they do (they do exist & may even be high profile, but are statistically a very small group), most players switch embouchures in normal playing & certainly to facilitate certain effects...it's legal, honest! ;-)
 
 

________________________________
From: Eric Miller <miller.eric.t@xxxxxxxxx>
To: Michael Rubin <michaelrubinharmonica@xxxxxxxxx> 
Cc: Harp-L <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx> 
Sent: Friday, 12 April 2013, 15:18
Subject: Re: [Harp-L] Technique u blocking


I'll agree with possible, sure.

I sound like I have a speech impediment when I do it though.  I just did it
with a harp and noticed it doesn't sound the same as a clean ta or dah done
from the pucker, its softened and muted a bit.  Also the reed isn't as
responsive because it's less percussive.  That's just what I observe though
(and I really use u-block a lot, so I'm part of the club of misfit toys :)

Just personal observation...we're all different.  I maintain that Tony
might benefit from trying both ways to experience for himself and have more
colors in his palette.  Do a few u block tah, dah, kah, then try the same
pucker and see what you think?


On Fri, Apr 12, 2013 at 10:11 AM, Michael Rubin <
michaelrubinharmonica@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> Eric,
> Put the tip of your tongue on your bottom gumline.  Now it is in a fixed
> place.  It cannot hit the roof of your mouth.  Now say ta da!
>
> See, you do not need the tip of your tongue to say ta da.  It may not be
> as pronounced, but the top middle of your tongue (or at least my tongue)
> can say ta and da just fine, thanks you.  Again, I say possible.
> Michael Rubin
> Michaelrubinharmonica.com
>
>
> On Fri, Apr 12, 2013 at 9:04 AM, Eric Miller <miller.eric.t@xxxxxxxxx>wrote:
>
>> maybe not impossible to *approximate* articulation, and certainly you
>> could do mid tongue articulation like hard K and C sounds.  Agreed.
>>
>> but..say "tah" or "dah" like Tony is asking, without a harmonica in your
>> mouth.  the tip of your tongue goes to the roof of your mouth on both
>> sounds without exception.  I'm going to stick with "impossible" for those
>> sounds, at least for me.
>>
>> The inside of the mouth is weird though, we all know.  Maybe advanced u
>> blockers like Norton (and heck, maybe you?) can develop a way to
>> approximate the T and D sounds.  I think we can all agree that just
>> switching to a pucker makes it a heck of a lot easier, and Tony would do
>> well to experiment with pucker to solve his problem and become familiar
>> with the differences.
>>
>>
>> On Thu, Apr 11, 2013 at 11:29 PM, Michael Rubin <
>> michaelrubinharmonica@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>>
>>> Eric,
>>> It is not impossible to tongue articulate while U blocking, I do it.  It
>>> does limit the triplet tongueing speed for me.
>>> Michael Rubin
>>> Michaelrubinharmonica.com
>>>
>>>
>>> On Thu, Apr 11, 2013 at 7:37 PM, Eric Miller <miller.eric.t@xxxxxxxxx>wrote:
>>>
>>>> you lose a lot of ability when you u block.  It makes your notes clean
>>>> and
>>>> easy to jump around....but its really hard to bend, and impossible to
>>>> articulate as you ask.  That's why I pucker most of the time
>>>>
>>>> norton buffalo could u block and bend, but i think if you want to do any
>>>> serious articulation...you have to switch to pucker
>>>>
>>>> u blocking is useful, but you may want to consider learning some of
>>>> all...pucker and tongue block.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On Thu, Apr 11, 2013 at 8:09 PM, Tony Stephens <tnysteph@xxxxxxxxx>
>>>> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> > To any other u blockers. Can you do a draw "ta da ta da ta da with u
>>>> > blocking? I can do it with the pucker. Trying to do what pucker
>>>> players do
>>>> > but with u blocking. Any advice please.
>>>> > Thanks Tony
>>>> >
>>>> > Sent from my iPhone
>>>> >
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>