Re: [Harp-L] tongue blocking holes 1 2 3

[Winslow Yerxa <winslowyerxa@xxxxxxxxx>]

It's a common mistake to assume that tongue blocking down to Hole 1 is problematic just because there are no holes to block.

Two points to assist in tongue blocking down to Hole 1 with your tongue to the left and the hole played to the right:

-- You have the equivalent of about two holes' worth of comb to the left of Hole 1, and your tongue can rest on that.

-- You can treat your lips like a zip-loc bag that closes and seals around the tip of your tongue for the part of your mouth that doesn't have the harmonica in it. This prevents air from leaking. The seal closes behind the left end of the harp as it exits to the right and opens in response to the harp re-entering as you move up to the higher holes.

I do this all the time, and I teach it in Harmonica For Dummies and Blues harmonica For Dummies along with several other tongue blocking techniques.

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


________________________________
From: Mike Wilbur <mike@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: "philharpn@xxxxxxx" <philharpn@xxxxxxx> 
Cc: "harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx" <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx> 
Sent: Friday, January 23, 2015 6:55 PM
Subject: Re: [Harp-L] tongue blocking holes 1 2 3


Thanks Phil...interesting

Mike Wilbur

> On Jan 23, 2015, at 9:30 PM, philharpn@xxxxxxx wrote:
> 
> Some have complained that it is not practical to tongue block holes 1 2 3 on a 10 hole diatonic because there is no chord to block. On the 10-hole diatonic there is no hole to block to the left of hole 1, only one hole to block to the left of hole 2 and two holes to block to the left of hole 3. 
> 
> 
> The simple, easy solution is the Solist Pro 12 Steel low C by Seydel. This is a 12 hole diatonic with a double richter layout for holes 1 2 3 and 4 5 6 . This is like the Steve Baker Special built on the 14-hole Hohner.
> 
> 
> The Seydel is built on a 12 hole diatonic that has the thickness, depth and feel os the standard 10 hole diatonic.
> 
> 
> It has a low C richter for the first three blow=draw notes and then starts the standard richter starting on hole 4.
> 
> 
> So the harp is played starting on hole 4, tongue blocking and instead of blocking  wood, or a few holes, there is a full chord to block to the left of the 4 hole.
> 
> 
> This give the player the option of lip pursing the bends on holes starting with 4 5 6 etc. or tongue blocking the bends while vamping or slapping a chord behind.
> 
> 
> This same double richter has be special ordered on a 10 hole, too.
> 
> 
> Looking over the Seydel site I noticed Sonny Boy II harps in C and D were available, which were reportedly the keys SBII used. But if other choices are wanted, other keys could be ordered under the configurator -- regardless of whether  SBII ever used them.
> 
> 
> hope this helps
> 
> 
> Phil
> 
> 
> 
>