Re: [Harp-L] Pucker

[Winslow Yerxa <winslowyerxa@xxxxxxxxx>]

Whether you pucker or tongue block, you still face the challenge of getting your embouchure to stay in formation as you slide the harmonica to another hole.

You have two requirements:

1. Keep your lips relaxed enough that you can slide the harmonica freely from one hole to the next. Pressing the harp hard into the lips and clamping your lips down hard on the harp will both cause problems when you try to move the harp.

2. Once you've attained a clean single note, you have to prevent your embouchure from losing its shape when you slide the harmonica to a neighboring hole. How do you do that? See No. 1.

Winslow

Winslow Yerxa
President, SPAH, the Society for the Preservation and Advancement of the Harmonica
Producer, the Harmonica Collective
Author, Harmonica For Dummies, ISBN 978-0-470-33729-5
            Harmonica Basics For Dummies, ASIN B005KIYPFS
            Blues Harmonica For Dummies, ISBN 978-1-1182-5269-7
Resident Expert, bluesharmonica.com
Instructor, Jazzschool Community Music School


----- Original Message -----
From: Arthur Jennings <arturojennings@xxxxxxxxxx>
To: Tony Stephens <tnysteph@xxxxxxxxx>
Cc: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Saturday, June 28, 2014 1:11 PM
Subject: Re: [Harp-L] Pucker

Learn to tongue block instead. It's much easier for tongue-blockers to pick up puckering when needed than vice versa.


I recommend David Barret's books and website to get you started on the right foot.

On Sat, Jun 28, 2014 at 12:51 PM, Tony Stephens <tnysteph@xxxxxxxxx>
wrote:

> Any tips on how to get the single note? I can get 
> it till I move from hole to hole.
> Thanks Tony
> Sent from my iPhone