Re: [Harp-L] Technique u blocking

[Tony Stephens <tnysteph@xxxxxxxxx>]

Robert
    I do not make a big u shape, I think more of a v shape. My tongue slides along the bottom plate of the harmonica. 
     I am still learning. Just been at it going on 3 years. I am sure some pick up on playing faster the I have. I am having fun & learning. That is what I think it is all about.
    I enjoy all of the talk here about u blocking. Good to know that there are a number of players that use it.

Sent from my iPhone

On Apr 14, 2013, at 1:02 AM, Robert Coble <robertpcoble@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> 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
>