Re: [Harp-L] Technique u blocking

[Robert Coble <robertpcoble@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Larry Marks wrote:

<SNIP>
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?
</SNIP>

That's exactly what I learned to do, and it IS U-blocking. I wrote an article (actually on Harp-L originally) about the misconception that the TIP of the tongue has to be cajoled into a tight little curl to U-block. You are correct that there is a curved area (similar to a trough) running right down the center of everybody's tongue. (Okay, so there's some guy who had his tongue surgically altered into something similar to a snake's forked tongue; that doesn't count because he's not a harmonica player.) The article is archived at:

http://www.praiseharp.us/articles/ublock.html

If you are interested, check out the link.

Regards,
Crazy Bob