Tongue Block DO's and DON'Ts

[@Learntheharmonica]

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[@danlaxer514]

Hi Liam. Thanks for this. Really helpful. About a year ago I started working on becoming a hybrid player, mixing tongue blocking with lip pursing. Your videos are always helpful. Cheers.

[@Learntheharmonica]

You're very welcome Dan, really glad you find my videos useful! 😎

[@GrilloTheFlightless]

This is a really helpful video. I started to play, as a lip-purser, in 1997 but sort of drifted away in 2004 when I was starting a family in 2024, only playing sporadically. I took it up again in earnest in 2020 when lockdown allowed me more time and haven’t stopped since. I was exclusively lip-pursing but decided to try tongue blocking in 2022. The fact is that I learned tong blocking wrong! I can get clear single notes but really struggled with good-sounding slaps and split octaves. I was keeping my tongue to the right of the note I was playing and not the left. I only discovered my mistake today by watching some tutorials on KZbin, including yours! This, and your other video, has really unlocked a door for me so thank you! I like the hybrid approach. Some people will tell you that tongue blocking gives a better tone. I don’t agree. It’s a different tone, but whether it’s better or not depends on personal preference and what you’re trying to achieve, and if you have a good, deep embouchure for lip pursing the difference in tone isn’t actually that great. Personally I like the loud volume, crispness of sound and level of control I get with lip-pursing. It suits my style. But it will be so useful for me to be able to access the additional textures available with tongue-blocking.

[@charliegregory4148]

Your tip #1 from previous vidio hit home with Me. Simply start playing familiar tunes tounge-blocked. Just sorta live into it. Thanx Liam.

[@hamishlovesit4731]

Great video what I am trying to get my head round is why I did all the lip pursing lessons

[@samuelsukenik5008]

Hello Liam, great video, a lot I learned Thank you!

[@Learntheharmonica]

No worries Samuel, thanks for watching! 😎

[@EarnestInvesting]

Thanks Liam, great video!

[@Learntheharmonica]

You're welcome Nathan 😎

[@HarpoonDon]

I'm only 2min-50seconds into this video and I already love it!! What you are saying makes sense. Relearning lip-pursing songs as tongue blocking.

[@Learntheharmonica]

Awesome, I'm glad you like the video Don!

[@patrikduller8449]

Nothing left to wish for. Thanks, Liam! :)

[@Learntheharmonica]

You're very welcome Patrik!

[@gagisvanidze592]

I'm tongue blocker 100% too. Including blow bending in upper register and overbending 👅

[@Learntheharmonica]

Awesome!

[@miguelgus5818]

Great!!

[@OnceTheyNamedMeiWasnt]

An incredibly important and helpful lesson. The suggestion to relearn tunes in the tongue-block embouchure is critical, I find. Especially focussing on certain tricky runs or note transitions, and also bending with a tongue-block. I'm trying to learn bending hole two with tongue-block as well as I can do it with the picker, but dang it's tough. Switching between tongue-block and pucker is a really interesting point.

[@norfolknwhey4787]

Did you get the 2 draw TB bend? I find that I have to seat the harp deep in the mouth, and really drop the jaw to get a solid tone on that note. The 2/3/4 draw bends are critical for solid blues.

[@OnceTheyNamedMeiWasnt]

@@norfolknwhey4787 Hi there, yes, I spent a lot of time relearning to bend notes with tongue block. So much so, that I find it harder to play puckered now!

[@norfolknwhey4787]

@@OnceTheyNamedMeiWasnt I started with Pucker, and then learned TB. Now I play about 90/10 TB/LP, reserving pucker for 8-10 blow bends, and 4-6 overblows.

[@OnceTheyNamedMeiWasnt]

@@norfolknwhey4787 interesting. I tongue block blow bends too as Filisko ordered me to. Anyway, when are we having that steak together?

[@norfolknwhey4787]

@@OnceTheyNamedMeiWasnt I wish I could TB blow bend as crisply as I do pucker. My intonation suffers on them when TB. I just never put the time in and sorta blended the styles. Oh, and long story, but I can’t eat red meat. Tick bite caused me to be allergic to red meat.

[@batchuluunbatsaikhan3749]

Yeeee man nice music 😯😯🤩

[@marybethhempel9101]

Hi Liam. I just watched your other video about bending mistakes, and that led me to watching this video! This is another great video Liam! You are right on about so many things. One thing that I was wondering about is if you have any tips on relaxing the mouth and tongue? Is there a trick that you know to help relaxation, especially when having to move quickly and accurately? I realize that it takes practice and muscle memory, but I was wondering if there are any focus tricks, or exercises, to help with relaxing? Thank you Liam for your wonderful videos!! :-)

[@Learntheharmonica]

Hi Mary Beth, so the biggest thing is to banish the idea of “blow” and “draw” (or even worse “suck”!) because really all we’re doing is breathing. Before you pick up the harp, practise breathing gently for a minute or so, no effort at all, making sure you’re not pulling or pushing the air, then pick up the harp to play a simple tune and try to apply that same gentle breathing. It does take time though!

[@terrysilverback8604]

Not sure if you're watching but, Thank you.

[@Learntheharmonica]

You're very welcome!

[@zokimirchovski2968]

Liam, are we allowed to send you an e-mail with a question or two?

[@cyounesful]

I love!! Not only like;))) thanks so much!!

[@Learntheharmonica]

Yay, thank you!

[@wealllame]

I always find it hard when do pro tongueblockers tongue block and when do they also lip purse do they always tongue block because it improves tone or do they lip purse at the high or low end or when doing quick moves

[@norfolknwhey4787]

lol it varies widely based on what the texture of the song calls for. A lot of Pro’s play 1-3 holes lip pursed, and the rest TB. Some TB everything except the top end blow bends and overblows. When you use what technique depends on the song feel, and personal preference. The best tip I can give is to listen to players you wish to sound like, try and emulate their sound, and then integrate it into YOUR personal style. There’s is no one perfect way to play, so make it your own by blending both techniques.

[@charliegregory4148]

At about 2:48, "really,really nice and slow" 🖒🖒🖒👏🎸😎💖

[@jrb4935]

$50 for each module?

[@Learntheharmonica]

You can find out info about pricing on my website: www.learntheharmonica.com Hope this helps :-)

[@stutteredtoast]

Tongue blocking is easier but for some reason more out of breathe. Damn asthma

[@hamishlovesit4731]

Pete Welland says best to have a bit of both ... He's been playing since we were kids .. sounds great .. 30 odd years ... Me 3 years ... 😊 ... Still I'm not terrible and just got into it definitely helps tone

[@hamishlovesit4731]

Frustrating at first but this video has helped me tremendously.. Thank you

[@Learntheharmonica]

No problem! Glad it helped you.