Blocker
41 posts
Mar 12, 2010
6:19 PM
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Guys when I first took up harp playing not so long ago, the technique I learned to play single notes and to bend, was to place the harp as far into my mouth as possible and to tilt it down using the area below your lips to block the adjacent holes.
Why I am asking is that I was just flipping through a book on some beginner material and it showed someone looking like they were about to kiss their grandma and then putting their lips on the harp. I just wanted some opinions on the differences and do any of the more experienced players use either technique for a particular reason, i.e. tone etc
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nacoran
1401 posts
Mar 12, 2010
8:56 PM
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The farther back in your mouth you get the harp the more your mouth effects the tone. You are using your mouth as a reverberation chamber. All other things aside, you'll get a fatter tone the more you can use your mouth. Whether you want a fatter or thinner tone really is a matter of taste.
Now, when you hear about pursing versus blocking it's usually lip pursing vs. tongue blocking. Tongue blocking is a whole other beast. People will argue over which one has better tone, but again, that has a lot to do with your personal taste. I think it's easier to play bends pursing, but there are things you can only do tongue blocking, like playing split octaves. It's good to know both techniques. I still have a hard time with tongue blocked bends.
And for some reason, in most states, if you are a tongue blocker you aren't allowed to marry a lip purser.
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Nate
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oldwailer
1113 posts
Mar 12, 2010
9:27 PM
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Yeah, I heard that a LPer married a TBer down in Florida once. It didn't work out, and the LPer went to a divorce lawyer to find out if, after a divorce, they would still be brother and sister. . .
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nacoran
1403 posts
Mar 12, 2010
9:34 PM
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Oldwailer, yes, but they would no longer be their own uncle and aunt.
There is a song, I don't know who it's by, with a great line, "Florida, Florida, the redneck Riviera"
But I can't say anything because I used to run around naked in my trailer park in Florida. I was only three, but still...
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Nate
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Last Edited by on Mar 12, 2010 9:37 PM
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oldwailer
1114 posts
Mar 12, 2010
9:56 PM
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Well, I lived in Florida for a few years--had to leave when my chin started to recede. . .
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Jim Rumbaugh
172 posts
Mar 13, 2010
5:21 AM
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I am a LIP BLOCKER.
When I teach a beginner how to do a single note, I show them that technique. I start by putting the harp in my mouth straight and blowing a chord. As I tilt the harp up, my lower lip starts to cut the notes off one at a time until there is only one remaing.
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nacoran
1407 posts
Mar 13, 2010
10:20 AM
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Jim, so that's a deep mouth variation on lip pursing? Can you use your lip to block octaves? I'm just trying to make sure we get all the terms straight. I do see a difference in what your saying and the 'granny kiss' version.
Another benefit of having the harp deeper in your mouth is doesn't seem to tear up the lips as badly. I don't know if it's you keep the harp wetter or if the more puckered style requires more force to keep a seal or what. I think you aren't moving the lips as far to change notes with a deep embouchure so you have less wear and tear.
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Nate
Facebook
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Jim Rumbaugh
176 posts
Mar 13, 2010
10:27 AM
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@nacoran I use my tongue for octave splits.
The "granny kiss" pictures you mentioned, I have seen in Jon Gindick's book. Though I could not do it when I started, I could pucker like that now, and make it work.
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hvyj
193 posts
Mar 13, 2010
11:54 AM
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The "granny kiss" pr "fish mouth" embouchure accomplishes two things (both of which contribute to good tone): 1) it helps get the harp DEEP in the mouth, and 2) it helps you to form the largest possible air aperture consistent with still getting a single note.
The tilt (if used with deep embouchure) puts the holes of the harmonica in the mouth PAST the top front teeth which helps provide a larger unobstructed oral resonance chamber which also improves tone. Btw, tongue blocking allows the harp to get in the mouth past the top and bottom teeth.
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Ev630
136 posts
Mar 13, 2010
3:29 PM
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So lip blocker is the new term for pucker player?
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Nastyolddog
413 posts
Mar 13, 2010
4:25 PM
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Yo Ev630 MBH forum is the first time i heard this term
i think it's incorrect,
iv'e allways called it Lip Purseing,
ive heard it called Fish lips
or Pucker method,
my Bro calls it cats bum method..
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Blocker
42 posts
Mar 13, 2010
5:19 PM
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@Nacoran your description of a deep mouth variation on lip pursing is exactly what I was talking about, it’s definitely different to just puckering up and putting the harp to your lips. In fact I put it in as far as when tongue blocking (past my teeth and then tilt down).
By the way the same book I flicked through also states and I quote:
(Pucker) “This is the most popular way of playing a single note and best suited for blues. In fact I believe it was actually developed by blues hap players"
I don't necessarily agree with that statement and God forbid that argument starts up again, but I found it interesting. The book I was reading is "Teach Yourself to Play Blues Harmonica" By Bobby Joe Holman, Dave Rubin.
Last Edited by on Mar 13, 2010 5:29 PM
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Ev630
138 posts
Mar 13, 2010
6:47 PM
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Whether you put the harp in deeper or whatever, it's still the pucker method. What you're discussing is the detail.
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