From: John Wherry Date: Mon, 25 May 1998 11:09:17 -0400 Subject: Beginner's tounge blocking questions
Hello harpers,
These questions are probably beneath most folks but I'm hoping someone may have been there before. In trying to learn tounge blocking (TB):
I've noticed my cheeks puff out (ala Dizzy) on every blow note whereas when I pucker this never happens. Is this typical? It seems 'not efficient'.
In general, draw blocks are harder than blow blocks for getting a clean single note. Should this eventually even out?
Maybe one day I'll be be able to do simple draw bends while TBing, but I have no idea how that will happen. Evidently, my tounge was actually doing something when I was puckering and bending. Bends seem out of the question. Is this the toughest part of the TB thing?
Thanks in advance for any help/advice, John
Background - I've been horsing around with 10 hole harps for years but only recently in any semi-serious manner. Thanks to this list and some other books/CDs, I've come to the conclusion I must master TB for the blues thing. I'm currently trying the Jerry Portnoy masterclass (CD 1, track 6, and I think I'll be here a while). Previously I've been just listening, puckering, and bending enough to impress just about everyone except my family. I wouldn't know an overblow or overdraw if it hit me. My biggest influence until recently was Paul Butterfield and Sonny Terry, both of whom (I'm told) are puckerers. Sonny Terry is amazing and I'm convinced I'll never get close. And now I have these Little Walter CDs.....
