I can't do the fast tongue switch move, where people warble rhythmically and at fast tempo between notes by performing tongue block and switching between corners of the mouth.
It's been discussed often on the main forum, and people have suggested it's a genetic can-or-can't type of thing - like being able to roll your tongue.
Anyway, I was listening again to Ronnie Shellists 'Here I am' from his Chicago Sessions album. I don't think there is a YT to share sorry. And he does a slow-tempo tongue switch that sounded nice. I've had lessons with Ronnie and, at least at the time, I think he said he couldn't do the fast-switch.
So I had a go, here's a snippet after some practice, this seems like a useful thing to have in the bag possibly on a slow blues.
Last Edited by MindTheGap on Feb 07, 2016 12:42 AM
yep sounds good... i often pull a move with tongue switch holes 4 to 1 or v/v... its not a warble, its just separated octave split...eg over a 5/4/1... 3 +4 4' 4 1 4 4' +1 +3 3' +4 +4 3' 2 2 2 2 2
there are a lot of pulls and slaps in that
another (just the V and IV), 4 1 4 +4 +4 +1 +4 +3
moving switch between 4 and 1 is not too hard. playing to the left is something i think can develop fairly quickly with regular practice, but does take some upkeep...i recall Michael Ruben saying he had become quite proficient at it but i think he also said he'd let it decline
Ive been working on it too. I sound kinda like you MTG. Sometimes i can absolutely NAIL it and other times it feels like I'm all thumbs. It's not as easy to do as it sounds. The hard part is not leaking in other notes. I can do it pretty fast when I'm on the ball. Not as fast as a normal warble. But consistently not so much. I dont know what causes the "all thumbs mode", its kinda frustrating. But i guess practice practice practice right?
Ron this can not be done puckered because while a puckered warble would be 45454545 a TB switch would be 41414141. It's just impossible to do puckered. ---------- "Trust Those Who Seek The Truth. Doubt Those Who Say They Have Found It."
kHz. Oh, I liked what I did there, that is what I was after more or less. Well, there you are :) Did you think I'd nailed it or was I all thumbs? :)
I can't do it any faster, some people can do it a full two-hole warble speed. I think that's the genetic element they refer to. But I do think this slow-tempo version will be usable in particular circumstances. I had written off the switch-warble as a can't-do, but then I head it in that track. Oftentimes, I need to hear someone else do a thing to validate it. Back to the self-worth issues again I guess.
I think Rontana's saying the two-hole shake/warble gives a similar sort of feel, I think that's true.
Superbee. When I was first learning to TB I did work on good single notes from either side, but the left side atrophied as I didn't find much use for it, so personally I use the switch from 'pucker' to right-side TB or vice-versa to do some leaps, but not things like your phrase there. More like centre-to-side vs side-to-side. Looks like something have a go at though, all variety is good IMO.
Last Edited by MindTheGap on Feb 07, 2016 9:01 AM
No i thought what you did there was spot on. I actually wasnt sure if it was you or an example from a song. It was that good. I think speed will come in time. Consistency is key, i think. Both in being able to do it when you want and also in the notes. (Making each note sound evenly.)
My TB is similar. For holes 1and2 i use pucker. Sometimes i do 2,but out of the right side. I felt like i should learn to play out of the left side. But u made me feel better by saying you don't either. I can also bend TB now. Not well. I'm not sure if i will peruse furthering the skill. It does make things easier to not have to switch constantly from pucker to tb. But it will take some time to have the control i have puckered.
Anyways i think it sounds good bro. ---------- "Trust Those Who Seek The Truth. Doubt Those Who Say They Have Found It."
