Re: [Harp-L] Re: Standard embouchures

[Mike Wilbur <mike@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Maybe it's time to go back to arguing ....wood or plastic !

Mike Wilbur



> On Aug 22, 2014, at 3:03 PM, Richard Hunter <turtlehill@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> 
> On Aug 22, 2014, at 11:18 AM, Harmonicology [Neil Ashby] wrote:
>>> 
>>> This issue is often problematic, but perhaps SPAH could standardize some harmonica vernacular (even though 'comping' seems to have been rejected).
>>> 
>>> There are three standard embouchures for use with the harmonica:
>>> 
>>> (1) "Lip-Block" with the harmonica held at the upward angle (back to front) sufficient to primarily use the lower-lip for blocking holes to the side; the standard embouchure for bending on the Diatonic harmonica.
>> 
>>> 
>>> (2) "Pucker" with the harmonica held nearer to level (back to front) than with the "Lip-Block" and often used for trilling and overbends and other special effects.
>> 
>>> 
>>> (3) "Tongue-Block" used generally with the Chromatic harmonica _or_ with the Diatonic harmonica specifically for corner-playing and octaves and various intervals and slaps and other special effects.
> 
> I disagree with practically everything in this post:
> 1)  Lip block is not "the" standard embouchure for bending.  bending mostly happens in the throat, and therefore is compatible with any embouchure.
> 2)  The pucker embouchure is the main embouchure used by many players, including Butterfield and Musselwhite, and therefor is not relegated to "special effects."  it's also used by chromatic players.
> 3)  the tongue block can be used for damn near anything you can do with any of the others.
> 
> How did you come to these conclusions, anyway?
> 
> Regards, Richard Hunter