Re: [Harp-L] Tongue Blocking and Articulation

[philharpn@xxxxxxx]

And of course, the best way to get those bends spot on is to use an electronic keyboard (about $50). With a C harp, the bent notes are easy to find. They lie between the blow and draw notes. Hole 1: blow is C and draw is D, therefore the bent note is Db aka C#. Blow 2 is E, draw is G, therefore the bent notes are F# (1/2 step bend) and F (full step bend). For hole 3, the blow note is G and the draw note is B, there for the bends are Ab (1/2 step bend), A (full step bend) and Bb ( 1 1/2 step bend).


Remember, the bends must be hit spot on for full credit. Only partial credit for sliding up to or down to a note. (Except for slurs, of course.)


With harps in other keys than C, use an electric chromatic tuner (about $20) --  (NOT guitar tuner that recognizes only guitar strings) -- to create a layout chart.  


Hope this helps,
Phil



-----Original Message-----
From: Rick Dempster <rickdempster33@xxxxxxxxx>
To: Dan Hazen <bluesmandan76@xxxxxxxxx>
Cc: harp-l <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Fri, Aug 15, 2014 8:16 pm
Subject: Re: [Harp-L] Tongue Blocking and Articulation


The bend/tongue-block combination is the fundamental skill of the old 'fox
chase' lick.
This was so common in old hillbilly and black rural music in the past, that
it suggests to
me that it's a case of how badly you want to do it, not that it's all that
difficult.
Palmer McAbee's 'Lost Boy Blues' is a classic example of this; Onie Wheeler
and Wayne Raney too.
RD


On 15 August 2014 22:27, Dan Hazen <bluesmandan76@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> Someone else mentioned this and I share their difficulties. I have a hard
> time bending notes while TBing. I can do it a little bit... using the back
> of my tongue/throat to articulate, but generally I switch to puckering when
> I need to bend or otherwise articulate... Maybe some of you hardcore TBing
> guys have some tips for different articulating techniques...
>