Posted by Webmaster- HarmonicaLessons.com (209.179.138.242) on June 15, 2000 at 00:37:39:
In Reply to: Re: lipping vs. tongue blocking posted by Sumter on June 13, 2000 at 08:42:56:
: : : : Hi all, thanks for reading this.
: : : : I've been harping for over two years and made some slow but solid progress.
: : : : I just discovered this GREAT! site recently and have come to the conclusion that I've
: : : : been LIPPING my way through all this time. Can anybody tell me WHY tongue blocking is the preferable technique to produce clear single notes?
: : : : I made a start on trying tongue blocking last night and think I need that WHY to get me there.
: : : : Hope someone can help!
: : : : Thanks and the best to you all,
: : : : Niels ~ The Netherlands
: : : Niels -
: : : The choice of technique depends on the type of music you are playing. For most standard blues-type music, whistle-method (lipping) is what I use. Tongue-blocking allows you to periodically lift the tongue, thus allowing several notes to play at once. This can give you a rhythmic accompaniment to your melody. This works best in straight harp, because of the way the chords lay out. Some people learn tongue-blocking only, and use this as their preferred method of single notes. There is nothing wrong with this, but it is more difficult to learn to bend notes while tongue blocking.
: : : Good Luck
: : : -- Marc
: : ________________________________
: : I agree with what Marc says but will add that almost all good players will utimately learn both methods because they each have their own advantages and disadvantages. I myself will use the whistle method (lipping) the majority of the time and will then use the tongue blocking when I want to add special effects. As Marc said, the ratio of using one or the other varies according to what I'm playing and what the situation calls for. And yes, bending is much easier to learn and do with the whistle method.
: : Bill
: Guys I have to disagree, which only goes to show that everybody has to develop their own way of playing the harp. I agree that it is important to learn both ways, and each has its advantages, but I've found that learning to bend was much easier with tongue blocking and it provided me with a lot greater control over the bends as i got better. i use the "U" metod of blocking which gives a lot of control of the reed you're working on and let's you move easily to octave positions with the tongue. Just my opinion. I think we'd all agreee that the best advice is to find what works best for you and run with it.
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Sumter- You and the other guys all make great points. In the interest of the average person who is just beginning to play, it is important to note that the act of curling your tongue into a tube to "U-block" single notes can only be done by about 50% of the population. It is a genetic talent or skill that not everyone has the ability to do and that is why we don't particularly recommend this technique. I absolutely agree with you that different techniques may work better for different people, and in the long run, the only thing important is making good music. But after giving a few thousand private harmonica lessons over the last 20 years, I can assure you that it is much easier for the average beginner to learn to bend with the "whistle method" than either the "tongue blocking " or the "U-block" method of playing single notes.
Thanks for your great comments and postings and don't be a stranger.
Webmaster