[Harp-L] Tongue Blocking and Getting STRONG 2 Draws and 3 Draw Bends

[Winslow Yerxa]

First thing I'd look at is the size of your mouth opening when you tongue block. If you're crowding the hole, it can make response suffer. It will actually cause a semitone bend on Hole 4, but it can cause Holes 2 and 3 to be unresponsive. If your Hole 2 draws are not coming in, this may be the cause.

The other thing to check on is tongue placement inside the oral cavity. For unbent notes you want a big, open chamber, with the tongue lying on the floor. When you bend, you can raise it to change the size of the cavity and tune it to the bent note.


Winslow

 
Winslow Yerxa
Producer, the Harmonica Collective
Author, Harmonica For Dummies, Second Edition: ISBN 978-1-118-88076-0
            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
President emeritus, SPAH, the Society for the Preservation and Advancement of the Harmonica



________________________________
From: Leonard Schwartzberg <leonard1 at xxxxx>
To: 'Harp-L List' <harp-l at xxxxx> 
Sent: Tuesday, October 18, 2016 1:38 PM
Subject: [Harp-L] Tongue Blocking and Getting STRONG 2 Draws and 3 Draw Bends


Good afternoon HARPERS:  As you know, I'm a beginner/intermediate player and
primarily play Seydel Steel Session, occasionally use Hohner Special 20's.
When I lip pucker (lip pursing) my 2 draws and all the 3 draw bends come in
STRONG and LOUD, however when I tongue block, which is what I truly prefer,
and truly trying to perfect, my 2 draws are barely audible and, it's very
difficult, near impossible, to get CLEAR, STRONG, 3 draw bends.   Is it just
a matter of "keep on tooting" till the cows come home?  Or am I overlooking
some basic trick?   Thanks, Leonard



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