One question relating to the tongue blocking technique: Is it advisable to learn playing single notes from the left corner of the mouth as well? Many instructional videos show the technique of using only the right corner. Do you use both techniques (switching between right and left corner of your mouth) when tongue blocking?
I think it's really important to be able to tongue block single notes from either side. Then it allows you to switch with a wide mouth. So if you're jumping large intervals of many holes, you don't move the harp as far or even at all. You just move your tongue to switch between holes 1 and 4 for example.
Ah yes, they have already discussed this topic in the forum a while ago: http://www.sonicjunction.com/jerry-portnoy/ask/topics/160-jerry-single-note-bend-while-tongue-blocking-fact-myth-or-legend
Ha-ha, it feels a little bit like going back to that time when I have worked on my lip pursed bendings ... back to the roots!
Hi Andre, thanks a lot for the prompt reply and your thoughts. Now I know what to do for the next weeks, months... ;-) Great, entering a new terrain... my harps and me, we are ready for this journey! I am looking forward to it.
I am new here, therefore a few words about my harp playing and my interests. Mainly I am a lip pursed player yet. However I have a strong interest in digging into to the world of tongue blocking.
My question is: if you play single notes with a tongue block what about bending these notes? In a lip pursed style I have control over my bendings however with tongue blocking … Ha-ha, it is tricky trying to bend a note from the corner of your mouth. Is there a specific technique too or is it just about practising and training your muscle memory to get comfortable with that?
Dear Sonic Junction community!
One question relating to the tongue blocking technique:
Is it advisable to learn playing single notes from the left corner of the mouth as well? Many instructional videos show the technique of using only the right corner. Do you use both techniques (switching between right and left corner of your mouth) when tongue blocking?
All the best
Manuel
I think it's really important to be able to tongue block single notes from either side. Then it allows you to switch with a wide mouth. So if you're jumping large intervals of many holes, you don't move the harp as far or even at all. You just move your tongue to switch between holes 1 and 4 for example.
Ah yes, they have already discussed this topic in the forum a while ago: http://www.sonicjunction.com/jerry-portnoy/ask/topics/160-jerry-single-note-bend-while-tongue-blocking-fact-myth-or-legend
Ha-ha, it feels a little bit like going back to that time when I have worked on my lip pursed bendings ... back to the roots!
Hi Andre, thanks a lot for the prompt reply and your thoughts. Now I know what to do for the next weeks, months... ;-) Great, entering a new terrain... my harps and me, we are ready for this journey! I am looking forward to it.
Hello Jerry and Sonic Junction community,
I am new here, therefore a few words about my harp playing and my interests. Mainly I am a lip pursed player yet. However I have a strong interest in digging into to the world of tongue blocking.
My question is: if you play single notes with a tongue block what about bending these notes? In a lip pursed style I have control over my bendings however with tongue blocking … Ha-ha, it is tricky trying to bend a note from the corner of your mouth. Is there a specific technique too or is it just about practising and training your muscle memory to get comfortable with that?
All the best
Manuel