Hi Dennis - thanks for such a comprehensive reply!
Apart from octaves I haven't tried tongue blocking until the last few days, so I'm developing new muscle memory - especially when trying to bend using my throat and not my tongue. I've started focusing 50% of my practice on TB techniques so I can start using them more instinctively. I figure for me to progress effectively I should be using 'correct' technique as soon as possible rather than coming back later and having to break engrained habits!
This is the first time I have visited Sonic Junction, and following your engagement with my question I am certain I will develop a long term relationship with the site - once I get this free lesson mastered!
BTW I came across this lesson when Googling your name after hearing it mentioned by Adam Gussow and Jason Ricci. Inspiring players, each of you!
I'm a beginner player who wants to start putting some techniques into action; I saw this performance on Youtube and wondered if I could learn it by ear... then I discovered Sonic Junction! After just the first chorus breakdown I've learned a bunch of new ideas and techniques such as chord chucks, non-octave intervals, and bending double-stops... which will be of enormous help going forwards. Dennis's approach is PERFECT for my level... what a cool cat, with a great teaching approach!
I'm a natural lip purser but am beginning to realise I need to be a proficient tongue blocker to play with authentic tone. My questions:
- aside from the chord 'chucks' (which Dennis advises are played with the tongue off the harp) is pretty much everything else played TB'd? For example when switching between 1 and 4 draw on the V chord do you move your mouth from low to high or simply swap the tongue from the right to the left side of your mouth?
- when bending whilst tongue blocking, does the your mouth/throat create the bending pressure before or after the tongue has gotten involved? I can just about hit the single and double 3 draw bend with my tongue covering 1 and 2... but I can't seem to tongue slap straight onto the bent note.
- would it make sense to learn the song lip pursed and then try and add some tongue blocking once I have the notes down... or to bite the bullet and force myself to tongue block before I proceed? I can't help but worry that it will force me to go back to square 1 and relearn everything I know!
- finally, where in each bar do you typically find room to breathe out? 90% of the notes are draw notes, and with the chord chucks filling in the gaps my lungs are full by the end of 2 bars!
Hi Alex - Glad you found this site and have been learning already from it! I love working with Sonic Junction, and think they have an awesome approach for learning songs here.
Answers:
- Yes, everything I play here is tongue-blocked. Technically, the "chord chucks" are also TB'ed because I am using theTB approach to get them done, not simply "chucking" a chord while puckering, which you give you a different sound, and attack. The Tongue-blocking technique does not just refer to when your tongue is on the harp, but also to any technique where TBing is incorporated.
- Since I am pretty much always TBing, my tongue is always involved, so I'm not sure how to answer that question. The bending pressure/technique is applied when I want the bent note to happen. I am always TBing, so my tongue is involved from the get-go. Give it time, it is somehting your mouth, throat, tongue and technique will need to develop over time and practice.
- I would say both. If you do not already TB, work on the basics of the song (notes, patterns, other techniques you already know) and at the same time work on developing your TB approach in separate practice time. It will be difficult to do any song with TB if you haven’t worked on the TB technique yet....so take bite-size things to work on for now.
- it is all about breath control. Most players (or ALL players at some points) breathe too heavily. Learn to use only as much air as you need to get the note/sound that you are going for, with no extra air. This is difficult to master, but essential to playing harmonica well...for tone, pitch, technique, and overall playing ability.
Hi Dennis - thanks for such a comprehensive reply!
Apart from octaves I haven't tried tongue blocking until the last few days, so I'm developing new muscle memory - especially when trying to bend using my throat and not my tongue. I've started focusing 50% of my practice on TB techniques so I can start using them more instinctively. I figure for me to progress effectively I should be using 'correct' technique as soon as possible rather than coming back later and having to break engrained habits!
This is the first time I have visited Sonic Junction, and following your engagement with my question I am certain I will develop a long term relationship with the site - once I get this free lesson mastered!
BTW I came across this lesson when Googling your name after hearing it mentioned by Adam Gussow and Jason Ricci. Inspiring players, each of you!
Hi Dennis - thanks for such a comprehensive reply!
Apart from octaves I haven't tried tongue blocking until the last few days, so I'm developing new muscle memory - especially when trying to bend using my throat and not my tongue. I've started focusing 50% of my practice on TB techniques so I can start using them more instinctively. I figure for me to progress effectively I should be using 'correct' technique as soon as possible rather than coming back later and having to break engrained habits!
This is the first time I have visited Sonic Junction, and following your engagement with my question I am certain I will develop a long term relationship with the site - once I get this free lesson mastered!
BTW I came across this lesson when Googling your name after hearing it mentioned by Adam Gussow and Jason Ricci. Inspiring players, each of you!
I'm a beginner player who wants to start putting some techniques into action; I saw this performance on Youtube and wondered if I could learn it by ear... then I discovered Sonic Junction! After just the first chorus breakdown I've learned a bunch of new ideas and techniques such as chord chucks, non-octave intervals, and bending double-stops... which will be of enormous help going forwards. Dennis's approach is PERFECT for my level... what a cool cat, with a great teaching approach!
I'm a natural lip purser but am beginning to realise I need to be a proficient tongue blocker to play with authentic tone. My questions:
- aside from the chord 'chucks' (which Dennis advises are played with the tongue off the harp) is pretty much everything else played TB'd? For example when switching between 1 and 4 draw on the V chord do you move your mouth from low to high or simply swap the tongue from the right to the left side of your mouth?
- when bending whilst tongue blocking, does the your mouth/throat create the bending pressure before or after the tongue has gotten involved? I can just about hit the single and double 3 draw bend with my tongue covering 1 and 2... but I can't seem to tongue slap straight onto the bent note.
- would it make sense to learn the song lip pursed and then try and add some tongue blocking once I have the notes down... or to bite the bullet and force myself to tongue block before I proceed? I can't help but worry that it will force me to go back to square 1 and relearn everything I know!
- finally, where in each bar do you typically find room to breathe out? 90% of the notes are draw notes, and with the chord chucks filling in the gaps my lungs are full by the end of 2 bars!
Thanks for everything!
Hi Alex - Glad you found this site and have been learning already from it! I love working with Sonic Junction, and think they have an awesome approach for learning songs here.
Answers:
- Yes, everything I play here is tongue-blocked. Technically, the "chord chucks" are also TB'ed because I am using theTB approach to get them done, not simply "chucking" a chord while puckering, which you give you a different sound, and attack. The Tongue-blocking technique does not just refer to when your tongue is on the harp, but also to any technique where TBing is incorporated.
- Since I am pretty much always TBing, my tongue is always involved, so I'm not sure how to answer that question. The bending pressure/technique is applied when I want the bent note to happen. I am always TBing, so my tongue is involved from the get-go. Give it time, it is somehting your mouth, throat, tongue and technique will need to develop over time and practice.
- I would say both. If you do not already TB, work on the basics of the song (notes, patterns, other techniques you already know) and at the same time work on developing your TB approach in separate practice time. It will be difficult to do any song with TB if you haven’t worked on the TB technique yet....so take bite-size things to work on for now.
- it is all about breath control. Most players (or ALL players at some points) breathe too heavily. Learn to use only as much air as you need to get the note/sound that you are going for, with no extra air. This is difficult to master, but essential to playing harmonica well...for tone, pitch, technique, and overall playing ability.
- Dennis
Hi Dennis - thanks for such a comprehensive reply!
Apart from octaves I haven't tried tongue blocking until the last few days, so I'm developing new muscle memory - especially when trying to bend using my throat and not my tongue. I've started focusing 50% of my practice on TB techniques so I can start using them more instinctively. I figure for me to progress effectively I should be using 'correct' technique as soon as possible rather than coming back later and having to break engrained habits!
This is the first time I have visited Sonic Junction, and following your engagement with my question I am certain I will develop a long term relationship with the site - once I get this free lesson mastered!
BTW I came across this lesson when Googling your name after hearing it mentioned by Adam Gussow and Jason Ricci. Inspiring players, each of you!