Re: [Harp-L] Technique u blocking

[MARK BURNESS <markwjburness@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi Larry,
 
At times I think I have done what you explain, other players have descibed a similar embouchure ("I put my tongue on the hole")...a sort of halfway house between a pucker and a U block, the main difference being the tongue sitting atop your bottom teeth, level with the lip line, rather than resting behind the bottom teeth? In my experience (not to be taken as any kind of edict) I have found rolling the tongue into a U shape deepens the cavity at the front of the mouth, pushing the lower jaw down and gives a slightly fuller tone, especially on the lower holes & bends, compared to not - you may have a fuller tone than me to start with, so which gives the best result from player to player may be somewhat moot.
 
There are often little tell tales that may give away certain techniques (and maybe certain techniques you do well to master if aiming for a particular vibe), but I don't believe you can group players by embouchure, relative to the sound they make...different people sound different when doing the same thing. If it sounds good, is comfortable and allows you to play good music...really, what more can you ask for? ;-)
 
Regards, Mark.
 
 
 

________________________________
From: Larry Marks <larry.marks@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: "harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx" <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx> 
Sent: Sunday, 14 April 2013, 0:03
Subject: Re: [Harp-L] Technique u blocking


I need to figure out what I actually do. Perhaps someone in this discussion can help me. I block using the center of my tongue to allow the passage of air. I do NOT curl my tongue in any way. The center of my tongue has a crease in it (I think everybody's does.)

So what is it that I am doing? I call it center tongue blocking because I do not make a "U" with my tongue and so don't think of it as U blocking. What do you think.

Being quintessentially lazy, I do not use side tongue blocking or pursing at all, ever, and I play only chromatical diatonical harmonica (both OB and valves.)

BTW, I have noticed another conversation about articulation with U blocking. As I say, I don't consider what I do to be U-blocking, but I have no problem with articulation using it. I am a trombone player, so I have practiced rapid articulation with fore-tongue, mid-tongue and back tongue (makes a big difference in sound - the degree of articulation.) I am as fast or faster on the harmonica as the trombone. You just have to get used to it.

  -LM
BTW, this is not by any means to disparage anyone else. Just what I do. Technique can be reasonably fast too. I can play Donna Lee error free at 180.