I enjoyed this lesson Tomlin. I have been working on Tongue Blocking for about 18 months I guess. I enjoy playing this way, but still things to learn and things to get better at. So goes my journey. Keep the videos coming.
I learned tongue blocking many years ago, but it got me into sloppy bad habits. Happy to use both methods to achieve clean notes. Many thanks for the lesson. Awesome sounding harp by the way.👍
Nice lesson, Tomlin. I started pursing but incorporated TB about three years ago. For certain things it sounds great, especially for slow solos and for some rhythm work like vamping. I think a good mix of both is best :) Cheers!
i came here to learn tongue blocking, i got the idea that i should make such a wine rack! (it is also good to hear that it is possible to play not blocking :p)
Hey Tomlin i was wondering. Some people told me my harmonica isnt quality (expensive) enough to do draw bends on it. Its a Hohner happy harp blue C. Ur opinion?
Good question. I started out tongue blocking, have become fairly proficient at that, but can't manage to bend properly using tongue blocking. I've recently begun working on lip pursing, can bend THAT way, but can't play worth a damn using lip pursing. If you find a solution to this dilemma, let me know! Tim
tshanahan22 Hopefully Tomlin won't mind me linking to a Lee Sankey video here. I came across one where he explains how to bend while tongue blocking. ruclips.net/video/_KOBVKTkXmc/видео.html
Thanks, C#. That's a great video. I'm applying the ideas there and while I can't yet properly bend with tongue blocking, at least I have a better idea of how to go about accomplishing that feat.
Thanks, Tomlin... just getting into TB. I have a question; at what point should I switch from blocking the right side holes to blocking the left side holes? Thanks.
Hey man, I'm brazilian, I began to study tongue blocking although I'm not a good lip purser, you've helped me a lot with your lessons. I still have many problems with bending techniques, how much time do you think I have to pratice until I can finally master as you do?
HI Brendon - that is quite subjective. I've been playing for nearly 13 years but I have some students who have been playing for a year who are better than me. It all depends on the person. I'm pretty slow at learning...
Tomlin, I've started watching your videos since day before yesterday and I've been hooked to your videos. I'm bent on learning the harmonica for some time now and will be getting my first harmonica in a few days(will get a Hohner special 20 I guess). What will you suggest me to go for? Tongue blocking or lip pursing? I understand that it's subjective according to everyone but if you would be asked to choose one for a beginner solely based on your experience, which would you suggest? Thank you in advance. :)
S. K. I started off as a lip purser and then signed up for Dave Barrett’s online course. He teaches tongue blocking from the get-go. Having played both, IMHO there is no comparison: learn tongue blocking. It has nearly all the benefits of lip pursing plus way way more texture and chord combinations than lip pursing. Start with TB and you won’t regret it.
@@TomlinHarmonicaUpdate. One day with the harmonica. Absolutely love it! I definitely want to go ahead with trying to master it. I tried out all three : 1) pursing 2)tongue blocking 3)u-tongue thing. I found the third one easiest but I'm going for pursing as of now. I can get single tones but moving is a bit problematic for me now . I guess that'll go as I put in more time. So all's well and I'm enjoying it so much!! Thanks again Tomlin for inspiring me to learn the harmonica!
I'm decent at this, though I have to practice moving from note to note more smoothly. Thanks for this lesson. One question: I find it very hard, though not impossible, to bend notes while tongue blocking because it feels different to condense space on the side your mouth instead of the center. Did you find this a challenge when you first started tongue blocking? Just curious. Thanks again for this lesson and so much more!
Hey! Im trying to learn tongue blocking, and i can sort of play single notes, but when i start moving the harmonica to hit different holes my tongue moves with it, this causes to open up the hole which i blow through so i play multiple notes, and not the ones i want. Do you have any tips on how i have to move the harmonica? Like do i take my tongue off of it every time i move it? CHeers!
Hi Alex, this is totally normal at the beginning. You will need to keep your tongue on the harmonica while you move the harp but make sure that it stays in the right place. To fix the issue you will probably need to really slow down how you are practicing it :-)
@@TomlinHarmonica thanks! I had the feeling no one really covered this problem in their video's. So i got the feeling i did something wrong haha. Thanks again and keep up the good lessons
Tongue blocking sounds super cool and bluesy if you get it right. Lip puckering should also be learned, though, because it allows for better bending (maybe I'm also just too bad to be able to bend when tongue blocking)
Tomlin or whoever reads this, please help. Update from before. I've started learning the harmonica 5 days ago and I don't understand how you position your mouth. As of now, I'm going for lip pursing and all I can do to keep proper position on a single hole is to either guess from the sound or to go for u-tongue thing or from muscle memory. Is there a sure shot way of knowing where you are or is it all down to muscle memory afterall?
Ok; after my giving thought to the harmonica that happens to having had been the likely first of instruments of my discovering that of creations that having being of thoughts; as easily could these evolve within (a) projected system(s) and just as respectfully and if as it likely the most of accurate of our tool; our mouth; and I use the word mouth instead of voice(s); because of it's possible use of it within a workings of conjunctions with other instruments. Ok so my story is that I played when I was about 5 or 6 or 7 or 8 or 9??? LOL but what happened was that most of my uncles played the guitars and sang and my Grandmother; the Violin, the Guitar and mostly the Accordion and my Grandfather always played the double sided harmonica and I'm not convinced that he always or if anytime at all; used methods of staying in key and I may be totally wrong though.LOL One day; I may get some heck from one of these uncles. LOLWell aanyway; I became a drummer as a primary instrument and of way more of dedicated of time spent on it; but had done the guitars; classical electrics(a few of those) and keyboaard. But once there was this time that buddies were jamming while partying and I had grabbed the harmonica on the table and started soloing to every song and it didn't matter what key the it may had been in or not because I play the whole of it and without a concern in the world and I had forgotten about my being able to play it as such and maybe one day; I'll show you all on video; I make it become my voice and it seems that it just isn't enough of just that alone for me but those whom were there at that one night; didn't stop starring and listening to these solos or whatever I was doing within that jamming. A harmonica should have automatic changes or buttons or something instead of using our tongues or that other method.
So I am attempting to learn to TB because after a long session of pursing I will develop a raw kinda blister on the left side of my mouth on my lip from sliding the harp side to side. I'm no pro so maybe it's bad technique. Anyone else ever have this issue?
Great lesson, Tomlin! But -- and I hope this isn't too stupid -- what's wrong with a Manji out of the box? Like, is it still a Manji after it's tampered with like that?
I don't think there is anything wrong with a Manji out of the box. I was gifted the harmonica by a student and think it is great but I wouldn't necessarily buy a custom Manji myself.
@@TomlinHarmonica Thanks so much! I think that's going to be my next purchase. BTW, Tomlin, would you happen to know if Hohners are cheaper in Germany? If that's too general a question, I apologize. My son's in Berlin, and I've been thinking about a Crossover, too.
Ein tolles Lehrvideo. Vielen lieben Dank. Auch wenn ich das Tounge Blocking sehr schwer finde. Spiele sehe viel und sehe gerne, jedoch halt nur mit der Lippe. Klappt aber sehr gut. Aber ich werde es immer wieder versuchen. Hoffe es klappt. Dann kann man noch mehr auf der chromatic Nonslider heraus holen. Viele Grüße von der Nordseeküste Manuel Nochmals vielen herzlichen Dank. 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍 Du bist ein TOP Lehrer. 👍😃
I am a beginner, maybe int-beg - using lip pursing, following a lot of your lessons. I am finding it very difficult to play the hihgher notes on any harmonica - 8,9, 10. Often getting no sound at all. However, if i try a (very rudimentary toungue block) i find it much easier to get a proper note to sound. Is this a common thing? Anyone else finding this? Is it stupid to eveolve a technique of switching to TB for the higher notes (even as an temprorary technique while i try to improve all round)?
This would suggest that you are sucking rather than breathing naturally. Try relaxing your tongue when you play so that you don't channel the air under pressure. :-)
After a while with tongue blocking your mouth realises that you are not trying to eat something and the saliva dries up. Had the same issue initially but now the soaking with spit thing is a thing of the past.
Andrew Williams Harmonica actually, if you tongue block correctly, that is not the case. A properly tongue blocked note will usually have a fuller sound than a pursed note, although there are exceptions, of course. There is a lot of debate and even argument about this, but one thing is for sure, the tongue definitely does not interfere with the air flow, even when bending notes. Cheers!
@@Blue_3rd I am only saying that the author of the video does not have a very good extraction with this technique. For example, when he plays 4 hole, you can hear that the sound is not sufficiently free, clamped down. this is fact!
✏ Get your FREE harmonica tab PDF and audio clips here 👉 foxly.link/xN3ovs
Thanks Tomlin. Had been worrying about tongue blocking below 4 note. This answers my question! Love your work!
Much appreciation to you, Tomlin for your generosity to the harmonica community. Been following you for 3+ years.
Thank you :-)
Finally! Been looking for videos and your explanation of using the top meaty part of the tongue and not the tip was very helpful! Thanks so much!
As a beginner I wasn't sure if I should start with tongue blocking or puckering, you cleared that up telling us we can do both.
I enjoyed this lesson Tomlin. I have been working on Tongue Blocking for about 18 months I guess. I enjoy playing this way, but still things to learn and things to get better at. So goes my journey. Keep the videos coming.
Thanks for everything you do
Thank you, Tomlin, for this TB technique lesson!
I learned tongue blocking many years ago, but it got me into sloppy bad habits. Happy to use both methods to achieve clean notes. Many thanks for the lesson. Awesome sounding harp by the way.👍
Great lesson Tomlin I'm a beginner harmonica player and TB was new to me and after this lesson I can TB that's amazing thanks for this lesson !!
Nice class bro’. Thank you for that and keep sharing
Thanks Tomlin, excellent lesson 👍👏
Yes. This lessons is for me ! :-)
Excelent masterclass thanks
Another great lesson Tomlin. Never really worked at younger blocking but this video has inspired me to try harder. Thanks Mike Higgins
Excellent to hear Mike!
Nice lesson, Tomlin. I started pursing but incorporated TB about three years ago. For certain things it sounds great, especially for slow solos and for some rhythm work like vamping. I think a good mix of both is best :) Cheers!
I totally agree :-)
Great explanation as always 👍
Very nice explanation sir. Thanks sir.
Excellent! I'm really impressed with the sound quality of your harp, also. Keep up the good work!
Thanks James!
What kind of harp is this i got blues harp in the key of E but it sounds nothing like that
Love the wine rack, I've got one just the same! Never seen another one until this video. Video is great too!
Thanks Derek - my father-in-law made it for us. :-)
@@TomlinHarmonica I'm pretty sure he didn't make mine, unless he has a production line! LOL
👍 einfach erklärt! nice thx
Brilliant, ideal for me :)
Good to hear!
Beautiful channel very nice update good morning have a good day
i came here to learn tongue blocking, i got the idea that i should make such a wine rack!
(it is also good to hear that it is possible to play not blocking :p)
Very good. The issue for me is switching from LP to TB and vice-versa, especially when bends are required (as I cannot bend in TB). :)
Practice practice practice :)
WOWWWW
Hey Tomlin i was wondering. Some people told me my harmonica isnt quality (expensive) enough to do draw bends on it. Its a Hohner happy harp blue C. Ur opinion?
Thanks, Tomlin. I'd love to see an instructional video by you on Lip Pursing for Tongue Blockers (esp. concerning bending). Thanks! :-)
I've just got to ask--how do you bend while tongue blocking? I'm a lip purser and can't figure out how it would be done.
Good question. I started out tongue blocking, have become fairly proficient at that, but can't manage to bend properly using tongue blocking. I've recently begun working on lip pursing, can bend THAT way, but can't play worth a damn using lip pursing. If you find a solution to this dilemma, let me know! Tim
tshanahan22 Hopefully Tomlin won't mind me linking to a Lee Sankey video here. I came across one where he explains how to bend while tongue blocking. ruclips.net/video/_KOBVKTkXmc/видео.html
Thanks, C#. That's a great video. I'm applying the ideas there and while I can't yet properly bend with tongue blocking, at least I have a better idea of how to go about accomplishing that feat.
hey I have that same pillow
Thanks, Tomlin... just getting into TB. I have a question; at what point should I switch from blocking the right side holes to blocking the left side holes? Thanks.
Hi Chuck, to be honest I only block the right side holes when I'm playing hole 1. Cheers, T
On bending with tongue blocking , do I bend note first then slap my tongue on the hole or how ??
💞
Hey man, I'm brazilian, I began to study tongue blocking although I'm not a good lip purser, you've helped me a lot with your lessons. I still have many problems with bending techniques, how much time do you think I have to pratice until I can finally master as you do?
HI Brendon - that is quite subjective. I've been playing for nearly 13 years but I have some students who have been playing for a year who are better than me. It all depends on the person. I'm pretty slow at learning...
Tomlin, I've started watching your videos since day before yesterday and I've been hooked to your videos. I'm bent on learning the harmonica for some time now and will be getting my first harmonica in a few days(will get a Hohner special 20 I guess). What will you suggest me to go for? Tongue blocking or lip pursing? I understand that it's subjective according to everyone but if you would be asked to choose one for a beginner solely based on your experience, which would you suggest? Thank you in advance. :)
S. K. I started off as a lip purser and then signed up for Dave Barrett’s online course. He teaches tongue blocking from the get-go. Having played both, IMHO there is no comparison: learn tongue blocking. It has nearly all the benefits of lip pursing plus way way more texture and chord combinations than lip pursing. Start with TB and you won’t regret it.
@@theraven6836 This is exactly what I wanted to know. Thanks for the reply.
S. K. Oh, and the Special 20 is fantastic.
Personally I would still recommend lip pursing to start with...
@@TomlinHarmonicaUpdate. One day with the harmonica.
Absolutely love it! I definitely want to go ahead with trying to master it. I tried out all three : 1) pursing 2)tongue blocking 3)u-tongue thing. I found the third one easiest but I'm going for pursing as of now. I can get single tones but moving is a bit problematic for me now . I guess that'll go as I put in more time. So all's well and I'm enjoying it so much!! Thanks again Tomlin for inspiring me to learn the harmonica!
I'm decent at this, though I have to practice moving from note to note more smoothly. Thanks for this lesson. One question: I find it very hard, though not impossible, to bend notes while tongue blocking because it feels different to condense space on the side your mouth instead of the center. Did you find this a challenge when you first started tongue blocking? Just curious. Thanks again for this lesson and so much more!
I did but I now find that the TB bends are easier than pursed ones.
Oh, interesting. Thanks! @@TomlinHarmonica
Hiiii....Sir... please...at full bending in hole 2 what is the position of the tongue? give a tutorial please, thanks
Here you go - ruclips.net/video/6QUDh9V4pFU/видео.html
Hey! Im trying to learn tongue blocking, and i can sort of play single notes, but when i start moving the harmonica to hit different holes my tongue moves with it, this causes to open up the hole which i blow through so i play multiple notes, and not the ones i want. Do you have any tips on how i have to move the harmonica? Like do i take my tongue off of it every time i move it? CHeers!
Hi Alex, this is totally normal at the beginning. You will need to keep your tongue on the harmonica while you move the harp but make sure that it stays in the right place. To fix the issue you will probably need to really slow down how you are practicing it :-)
@@TomlinHarmonica thanks! I had the feeling no one really covered this problem in their video's. So i got the feeling i did something wrong haha. Thanks again and keep up the good lessons
Wow! I thought tongue blocking was the normal way. Im a complete beginner and im practicing tongue blocking. Should i continue this path?
Yes
Tongue blocking sounds super cool and bluesy if you get it right. Lip puckering should also be learned, though, because it allows for better bending (maybe I'm also just too bad to be able to bend when tongue blocking)
Tomlin or whoever reads this, please help. Update from before. I've started learning the harmonica 5 days ago and I don't understand how you position your mouth. As of now, I'm going for lip pursing and all I can do to keep proper position on a single hole is to either guess from the sound or to go for u-tongue thing or from muscle memory. Is there a sure shot way of knowing where you are or is it all down to muscle memory afterall?
Check his top 5 beguiner's mistakes video
Lesson 3:08
👏👏👏👏👏👏😎
Ok; after my giving thought to the harmonica that happens to having had been the likely first of instruments of my discovering that of creations that having being of thoughts; as easily could these evolve within (a) projected system(s) and just as respectfully and if as it likely the most of accurate of our tool; our mouth; and I use the word mouth instead of voice(s); because of it's possible use of it within a workings of conjunctions with other instruments. Ok so my story is that I played when I was about 5 or 6 or 7 or 8 or 9??? LOL but what happened was that most of my uncles played the guitars and sang and my Grandmother; the Violin, the Guitar and mostly the Accordion and my Grandfather always played the double sided harmonica and I'm not convinced that he always or if anytime at all; used methods of staying in key and I may be totally wrong though.LOL One day; I may get some heck from one of these uncles. LOLWell aanyway; I became a drummer as a primary instrument and of way more of dedicated of time spent on it; but had done the guitars; classical electrics(a few of those) and keyboaard. But once there was this time that buddies were jamming while partying and I had grabbed the harmonica on the table and started soloing to every song and it didn't matter what key the it may had been in or not because I play the whole of it and without a concern in the world and I had forgotten about my being able to play it as such and maybe one day; I'll show you all on video; I make it become my voice and it seems that it just isn't enough of just that alone for me but those whom were there at that one night; didn't stop starring and listening to these solos or whatever I was doing within that jamming. A harmonica should have automatic changes or buttons or something instead of using our tongues or that other method.
So I am attempting to learn to TB because after a long session of pursing I will develop a raw kinda blister on the left side of my mouth on my lip from sliding the harp side to side. I'm no pro so maybe it's bad technique. Anyone else ever have this issue?
Great lesson, Tomlin! But -- and I hope this isn't too stupid -- what's wrong with a Manji out of the box? Like, is it still a Manji after it's tampered with like that?
I don't think there is anything wrong with a Manji out of the box. I was gifted the harmonica by a student and think it is great but I wouldn't necessarily buy a custom Manji myself.
@@TomlinHarmonica Thanks so much! I think that's going to be my next purchase. BTW, Tomlin, would you happen to know if Hohners are cheaper in Germany? If that's too general a question, I apologize. My son's in Berlin, and I've been thinking about a Crossover, too.
Ein tolles Lehrvideo. Vielen lieben Dank.
Auch wenn ich das Tounge Blocking sehr schwer finde.
Spiele sehe viel und sehe gerne, jedoch halt nur mit der Lippe. Klappt aber sehr gut. Aber ich werde es immer wieder versuchen. Hoffe es klappt. Dann kann man noch mehr auf der chromatic Nonslider heraus holen.
Viele Grüße von der Nordseeküste
Manuel
Nochmals vielen herzlichen Dank.
👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
Du bist ein TOP Lehrer. 👍😃
Wow 500 views 65 likes and 0 dislike not a bad ratio
I am a beginner, maybe int-beg - using lip pursing, following a lot of your lessons. I am finding it very difficult to play the hihgher notes on any harmonica - 8,9, 10. Often getting no sound at all. However, if i try a (very rudimentary toungue block) i find it much easier to get a proper note to sound. Is this a common thing? Anyone else finding this? Is it stupid to eveolve a technique of switching to TB for the higher notes (even as an temprorary technique while i try to improve all round)?
This would suggest that you are sucking rather than breathing naturally. Try relaxing your tongue when you play so that you don't channel the air under pressure. :-)
I ended up with a harp full of spit. Think I'll stick to lip pursing.
After a while with tongue blocking your mouth realises that you are not trying to eat something and the saliva dries up. Had the same issue initially but now the soaking with spit thing is a thing of the past.
Very good point Derek!
/lihb
You have a not very good sound extraction with a blocking tongue, the tongue interferes with the flow of air, the sound is clamped a little.
Andrew Williams Harmonica actually, if you tongue block correctly, that is not the case. A properly tongue blocked note will usually have a fuller sound than a pursed note, although there are exceptions, of course. There is a lot of debate and even argument about this, but one thing is for sure, the tongue definitely does not interfere with the air flow, even when bending notes. Cheers!
@@Blue_3rd I am only saying that the author of the video does not have a very good extraction with this technique. For example, when he plays 4 hole, you can hear that the sound is not sufficiently free, clamped down. this is fact!
I will get back on the practice :-)
@@TomlinHarmonica 👍Respect!
Why am I rolling my tongue