Simple daily exercise

[Ed McCullough]

I bounce back and forth between notes that are one octave apart. I put in a pause between the notes, as well as sometimes going quickly back and forth between the two notes. Let's say I start with a note E in the middle of the harmonica, I go back and forth between that E and either the upper or the lower E. Then I play all the Es in that manner. After a while, I do that with another note, but never with C.

[Grizzly]

I bounce back and forth between notes that are one octave apart. I put in a pause between the notes, as well as sometimes going quickly back and forth between the two notes. Let's say I start with a note E in the middle of the harmonica, I go back and forth between that E and either the upper or the lower E. Then I play all the Es in that manner. After a while, I do that with another note, but never with C.

Are you corner switching or puckering?

Tom

[Ed McCullough]

I mostly play pucker. I can Corner switch, but never try to perfect it. I feel that moving quickly with a pucker gives me a better chance of being accurate than going back and forth from corner to corner. Those guys who play chord harmonicas travel much greater distance, and still they're pretty accurate. It's matter of practicing so that you feel and respond to the distance. Mentally hearing pitch of the hole I am moving to helps a lot. Skipping over five holes quickly is really feasible, if you practice

[Age]

We just had this conversation on the Zoomer on Thursday, but I'm with Ed on the subject. Hey Toots scratched by pretty well with a pucker, so it can't be all bad. When I was a kid, I read those little waxed paper inserts that came with new harmonicas about to cover a couple holes with your tongue, and blow the one to the right. It made zero sense to me, and I asked myself: "Who would ever wanna do that??"

if a pucker was good enough for the Tootster. . . . . 

[Ed McCullough]

IF IF IF I ever play one of those 10 holers these days (They are marvelous instruments. I would never insult them.), I would use the tongue block method. I use the tip of my tongue to feel for the hole just to the left of the hole I am blowing through. Having the tip of my tongue in that hole is a rock solid method of finding my way around the ten holer.

Seeing a ten holer would be amazing. I might have seen a two holer outhouse a couple of times, but never a 10er

[Age]

I learned to tongue-block when I was about twenty cuz I wanted to play octaves. I did notice the difference in sound (along with the timber and overtones) but it didn't impress me enough to impress me. Still doesn't, FTM, but I'm glad I learned it cuz I do use it once in a while like when I want a different sound or just give the old smooch muscles a rest.

[brorat]

The first time I ever picked up a chromatic harmonica (about five years ago now), my mouth NATURALLY took it's place on the mouthpiece.  No thinking.  No lip pursing.  Just went there by itself.  Turns out, it's a "variation" of tongue blocking.  My tongue covers ONE HOLE (well, sometimes two ) to the left of the note I'm playing.  The exception is when I play the low C (or low hole on any harmonica).  For that note, I pucker.  What the ... 

Whatever the reason I went that way, it works for me.  I am pretty comfortable with jumps, and my "muscle memory" (about the only kind I have left) puts me at or pretty close to where I want to go.  With more playing and practice, it'll get better.

I think it's good to be taught some options in techniques of anything we do.  Choice is good.  Like in golf, there are teachers who will help you understand the "correct" way to putt.  Then, in the real world, you find what's YOUR "correct" way.  Just watch the pros!  No many are the same, and very few are using the technique that they were initially taught!

[Ed McCullough]

Agree with Borat: Use whatever method works for you.

[Rich35]

 Hi All
  I started tongue blocking when I first Started playing and to this day
 I have tried puckering but keep going back to tongue blocking .

[Age]

I've used a pucker for 72 years. (can't believe I just sed that ) I've always had my own "die-hard" reasons for using a pucker, so when folks disagreed with me, I never cared much. (Especially from the ones who played worse than I do L.O.L. ) Then, about ten years ago, I learned that Toots used a pucker; since then, I care even less.   

[RichChrome]

I am a pucker player, I have tried tongue blocking on a number of occasions but was never able to get comfortable with it, so I have stopped trying. I can jump an octave effectively without too much trouble but it's not something I need to do that frequently. So pucker it remains and I'm quite happy with that. There a lot of great players out there who only use pucker. Also I have heard tongue blockers say that they get a better sound/tone, I'm not convinced, I believe that any tone achieved by a tongue blocker can also be achieved using pucker, I am talking about the more skilled players.

[servus]

Count me among the puckerers. It always came naturally. I just wish hitting the right notes would come to me naturally too.

              PJ

[Age]

I am a pucker player, I have tried tongue blocking on a number of occasions but was never able to get comfortable with it, so I have stopped trying. I can jump an octave effectively without too much trouble but it's not something I need to do that frequently. So pucker it remains and I'm quite happy with that. There a lot of great players out there who only use pucker. Also I have heard tongue blockers say that they get a better sound/tone, I'm not convinced, I believe that any tone achieved by a tongue blocker can also be achieved using pucker, I am talking about the more skilled players.

Actually, while I can get waaaay more "tonal variations" with a pucker, I could never get those juicy "over tones" or maybe "sub-harmonics?" (not sure what ya call them ) with a pucker that are just automatically "there" for me with a TB. But still, the bottom line is that I settled in to a pucker back in the fifties. (when the streets were clean and sex was dirty )

[Grizzly]

So, when is sex ever dirty? Just askin'.

T

[Age]

Spoze I'm justa "Prude," but I'd hafta say, back in the days when girls would blush, and folks who weren't married would hide to "do it."

[Grizzly]

"back in the days"

I spose. But how could anything natural (or "God-given") be "dirty"? Is it dirty when dogs "do it"? Or bees? Only humans could make it abusive. But only by social, cultural or moral standards could it be considered dirty.

Cindy and I "broke the law" in five states before we were married. Our daughter was a babe in the arms of her godmother at our wedding 39 years ago. We didn't hide it, but what we "did" was in private.

A different era when you and I were growing up in the '50s, I spose. But by the sexual revolution of the '60s, and certainly by our marriage in 1985, times had changed.

BTW, I don't think I've ever heard "prude" used as anything but a pejorative.

Tom

[Age]

Actually the word "prude" prolly fits me, and I'm okay with it. I've never made through a screening for jury duty, cuz they never liked my answers. I try to live in a black/white, yes/no, on/off world. It's not always easy, but it's definitely simple, and saves time too. 

[servus]

Yes and no...