[Harp-L] U blocking

[Tony Stephens]

I want to know does anyone play harmonica with u-blocking? If so give me the pros and cons of this style. I started out this way, I like playing this way but I do not hear anything good about this style. Help!

Sent from my iPhone

[michael rubin]

To me, U blocking is the best for single note chromatic playing and
high notes on the diatonic.
Michael Rubin

[Paul Marconi]

I U-block on diatonics for single notes as well....It's how i learned, I
never knew there was another way. I have tried to t - block the other way
(tounge on the right or left side , and could never get used to it.

Paul

[Winslow Yerxa]

You don't hear that much about U-blocking because so few players use it. But some very accomplished players have been U-blockers, including Norton Buffalo and Leo Diamond.
 
Winslow Yerxa
Author, Harmonica For Dummies ISBN 978-0-470-33729-5
Harmonica instructor, The Jazzschool for Music Study and Performance
Resident expert, bluesharmonica.com
Columnist, harmonicasessions.com

________________________________
From: Tony Stephens <tnys...@yahoo.com>
To: "har...@harp-l.org" <har...@harp-l.org>
Sent: Friday, January 13, 2012 5:13 PM
Subject: [Harp-L] U blocking

[chicago bluesman]

You're fine with U-blocking. You can achieve the classic tongue
blocking slurs and tone with U-blocking. Listen to the great players
who tongue blocked--I'm a Big Walter fan, myself-- and work towards
achieving that sound with U-blocking. Who knows? Maybe they U-blocked,
too. I find that U-blocking is useful both for the classic chicago
sound where you alternate chords and single notes, sliding/slurring into
the single note, or maybe doing a tremolo-like effect, as well as
hitting single notes precisely and cleanly when playing faster runs.
What you can't do with a U-block technique is have a sharp attack and,
for that, I find that a pursed-lips method of achieving single notes is
necessary, should the phrase, song or style call for it. You want to be
able to do both the U-block and the pursed lips method of achieving
single notes, using them in different playing circumstances as
necessary. I think the data indicates that 15% of people cannot curl
their tongue--count yourself as lucky to be in the 85% club! It's
important, though, to be comfortable having your tongue slapping against
the harp so you can use it to hit octave chords.

[Larry Marks]

I am not certain how to label what I do. I tongue block, but except at
the extremes of the instrument, I do not block to the side as in
classical tongue blocking. The air comes down the center of my tongue.
But I do not form a U with my tongue to do this. Quite the contrary, the
parts of my tongue lying on either side of the center line are relaxed
so as to block holes, allowing only the middle note at the center of my
tongue to play.

I find this technique facilitates going to splits, since I don't have to
move my tongue to do it. I also find that this approach allows me to to
rapid tonguing while maintaining my embouchure. Many people switch to
pucker embouchure in order to do rapid tonguing.

-LM

[Paul Messinger]

I use both U-Block and Tongue-Block . it just depends what you want a
particular part to sound like, at that particular time . I agree with
Michael Rubin's about U-Blocking diatonic high-notes . but again, it depends
how you want those notes to sound . I like to play those notes like Stevie
Wonder attacked them in 'Boogie On Reggae Woman' . but Joe Filisko plays
them tongue-blocked (4th Position) on the Filisko/Noden piece 'I heard The
Angels Sing,' and it's awesome . so, it's more a question of what you want a
particular part to sound like .

In general, I've found that the full tongue-blocked chords sound fuller, and
the same U-Blocked chords sound thinner . but on my piece 'Bongo Boy,' for
instance, (in the DooWatchaDoo CD http://climbjacobsladder.bandcamp.com/ ),
I use both embouchures to construct parts of the main line, because at
different moments in that line I 'wanted' to hear a timbral difference .

Hope that helps .

Warm regards, Paul Messinger/Chapel Hill NC