Many years ago, my wife bought me a harmonica holder so I could try harmonica while playing guitar. I really got into it one afternoon while she was at work. After a couple of hours, I started feeling a tightness in my back, so I took the harp holder off, and when I did, my neck completely spazzed out. She came home to find me on the ground barely able to breathe. A chiropractor fixed me that afternoon, but I've been into harmonica ever since. But mostly playing melody type stuff, with a few blues riffs here and there. I wanted to play faster, bluesier notes, and I think your video will be a great help. Thank you!!!
I lip purse and this technique came to me without even having to think because I’ve been doing it without a harmonica as a nervous habit my whole life. You’re right about this being the most important technique, it opens up a new dimension of the instrument.
Dude I just picked up a g chord harmonica that came free for buying a violin for my daughter. I’ve been hooked! This video added an arrow to the quiver immediately- super glad I found your channel!
Yes, thank you for the lesson. I'm a beginner and I have watched many of your videos. You really explain things well. I have been playing drums for 50 years. It's really hard to just play drums by yourself. I wanted to play so I dug out my ancient Honer Pocket Pal in C. My son is a guitar player so we are going to play some blues . I have learned a lot.
I was on the verge of contacting you about this. You read my mind. This is exactly what I have been working on as a beginner. I have some of your lessons. I was almost of the opinion that it was impossible but I know it just takes time. Thank you so much for putting up more info about this technique. I’ll keep working. See you down the road , thanks!
Great tip Gus that sound you make is what I have been hearing when I have been listening to your videos on UA-cam. Now to practise. Thanks. Old bones Bewick
@ (3:09) when you go Duh Duh Duh it is hard for me to know if I am Tongue blocking or not because they are pretty close to sounding the same. It sounds like something I have heard Kim Wilson and others do like Lester Buttler of the Red Devils Blues Band. What I don't see in videos that much like this one is some of the technics Sugar Blue does like Tongue Flutter Tremolo and ones similar to that I don't know the names of these Technics so I have to search them out and ask what they are called. He does not do them all the time but once in a while, he will play these Technics. The Chicago Tribune said, "The sound of Sugar Blue's harmonica could pierce any night... it's the sound of a musician who transcends the supposed limitations of his instrument." Writing in the Chicago Tribune, music critic Howard Reich said, "There's no mistaking Sugar Blue's incendiary virtuosity. The speed and ferocity of his playing are matched by its inventiveness, with Blue packing nearly every phrase with trills, glissandos, clusters, and chords. At times, it sounds as if two harps were working at once... intense, melodically ornate, punctuated by growls and swooping pitches, it's the sound of a musician who transcends the limitations of his instrument." I need to hear what some of these Technics they mention and what they sound like to put a name to them. In this video, you will see what is the Tongue Flutter or Tremolo. Sugar Blue - Messin' With The Kid (Montreux Jazz Festival 2013)..... ua-cam.com/video/7etZxikgW8s/v-deo.html In this video has some of the Tremolo or Tongue Flutter. Sugar Blue - Another Man Done Gone ua-cam.com/video/K03fZa2-JS4/v-deo.html Also this has Sugar Blue doing Tremolo or Tongue Flutter Sugar Blue - Chicago Blues Festival, Juke Joint Stage, Grant Park Chicago. 1996 ua-cam.com/video/sVxsXtz1_Ns/v-deo.html This channel has more Sugar blue Concerts and other rare Concerts and music from the artist's Blues Records. I find the Tongue Flutter or Tremolo that Sugar Blue does is unique and different from everyone else in how they do it. Lee Sankey said it took him 5. years to learn it well. I feel everyone should be able to do it to become good at playing the Harmonica. My friend and mentor does not even Tongue block on the Harmonica and sounds very impressive sounding the way he plays. Thank you for doing this video this is pretty good. It brought me to the time Lesteer Buttler did this Technic. The Red Devils 1993 Live at Pinkpop The Netherlands ua-cam.com/video/y1vRdbqN2ZE/v-deo.html The Red Devils Concert (50 minutes) @ Moulin Blues Ospel 1993 ua-cam.com/video/quZZVghuNnw/v-deo.html
Adam, thank you, for the great explanations, that your always do for us. If it wasn't for your super ways of explaining various techniques, especially the close up views, I probably wouldn't have continued playing harmonica and I have a success story to prove this, but not for now! I have primarily primarily been a a Lip Purser, but use Tongue Blocking when playing Shuffle, Chord rhythm and/or a combination or both. I can musically detect a "lower pitch" when Tongue Blocking (not a flat pitch), but Lip Pursing sounds sounds a tad higher in pitch to me; However, I like the Percussive sound of the Tongue Blocking when used, even though you can effectively do Lip Pursing while comparing the two techniques. The recent Global Blues Harmonica Summit, showed us both and was great. Adam, I thank you for all you have done and are doing for the Harmonica Community.
Thanks for the lesson Adam. As an intermediate player ( I've been playing almost two years now ) I much prefer the sharper sound of lip-pursing, compared to the less sharp sound that tongue-blocking emits. Listening to you play both techniques, helps me to understand that I prefer to develop into a lip-purse player, rather than a tongue-blocker. For me; you sound better playing that tune lip-pursed. I am working on a new tune and was wondering how I can make it sound ' fatter; ' now I know! ;-) A simple and yet, compelling lesson mate; thanks again.
Tongue blocking sounds fatter indeed but that doesnt mean its 'better'. It depends on what you're looking for tonewise. As a full tongueblock player, I might add that you can get a mean and 'sharp' sound playing tongueblock. Tongue articulation is very crucial to that sound and its trickier to do while tongueblocking (you have to use the medium part of the tongue, doing k sounds). At first I didnt understand how 'the walters' were achieving that but when you get it a whole world opens up ;) . Adam explained how to do it in the video by the way.
At this stage of my development, I'm obviously not looking for the tongue-blocking sound. I can appreciate the sound that people like Lee Sankey make by playing in the style of tongue-blocking and I also like Adam's sound which obviously is a lip-pursed sound. I have tried a little tongue-blocking myself and so far, I'm not a fan! I know at some point, I will learn it and play some tunes that require that particular style, but at this point within my learning curve, I'll just ' plod along ' and learn at my own pace. :-)
Darren Batty I like how you see your learning process. It sounds like you know what youre looking for and yet keep being curious. I see things this way too ;) . Good harpin :)
Thanks mate. Curiosity is what helps us to push forward. The very same curiosity is what is pushing me to ' nail ' the A# on the third draw hole, because so far; it is very, very weak. And it is nice to meet a fellow ' curious harper. ' :-)
Firstly let me thank Adam for his continued generosity. I understand what your saying Darren, lip pursing for beginners like us has a more accurate sound. I generally learn a tune lip pursed and then try it tongue blocked, where it is much harder to articulate. But if you just keep switching between techniques it wont be long before you pick up the harmonica and play tongue blocked without consciously realising. I use both styles depending on the type of music I'm trying to play. and they're really interchangeable. Also tongue blocking is fun, I love the oompah band sound you get when tongue switching, which doesn't have to be precise to get some great rhythms.
I need help, I am a beginner but in this lesson I can’t understand weather you are doing 2 blow notes with lips in different positions , 2 draw notes or 1 blow 1 draw, or 1draw 1 blow. What are you doing. It sounds nice.
He was doing 2 draw both times, one was with lip pursing and embouchre making only 2 made noise. The other was with his mouth over 1 and 2, but he was blocking 1 with his tongue so only 2 made noise
Do you buy the lessons you offer from Trade Bit? I’m interested in learning. I’m a guitar player with a recently broken arm. This would be a good time to learn my basics. Thanks for any help.
Hi, Schiken8, Playing harmonica with one hand is like playing guitar with one hand: possible, but something's missing. Now serious, there's a lot (yeah, A LOT) to hands than just holding the harmonica. I agree you can play it onto a harmonica rack, also players like DeFord Bailey used one hand only. But if you do you are missing, to name a few: muting, wah, slaps, tremolos, cupping, extended resonance... and, aside of musicality, I'd say, some coolness ;-) On top of that, since you say you would start out from scratch, getting used to play one hand would cause you some stress in your technique once you get your arm back in shape and implement it (heal up soon!). To sum up, don't neglect the richness of playing harmonica with TWO HANDS! :-) If you eventually take up harmonica, welcome on board. Hope this helps, greetings
makilakixki Hey thanks for the input and advice!!! Even though I don’t know how to play yet, I agree on the Hands, having a great part in playing the harmonica. Since I was down, I kinda wanted to focus on blowing and drawing single notes and chords. Then when my hand is healed I was gonna work on techniques. What do you think?
Adam's early tutorials are your best bet. However, your primary goals should be imho: grip, stance, breathing from your diaphragm, pucker embouchure and single clean notes. Good luck!
The tongue stuff confuses me, do I hover my tongue over the notes? Press my tongue firmly against it or on my teeth? Do i move my tongue back? I get confused when playing 😂😂 When tabs tell me to play notes do I use my tongue and cover the note?
Many years ago, my wife bought me a harmonica holder so I could try harmonica while playing guitar. I really got into it one afternoon while she was at work. After a couple of hours, I started feeling a tightness in my back, so I took the harp holder off, and when I did, my neck completely spazzed out. She came home to find me on the ground barely able to breathe. A chiropractor fixed me that afternoon, but I've been into harmonica ever since. But mostly playing melody type stuff, with a few blues riffs here and there. I wanted to play faster, bluesier notes, and I think your video will be a great help. Thank you!!!
I lip purse and this technique came to me without even having to think because I’ve been doing it without a harmonica as a nervous habit my whole life. You’re right about this being the most important technique, it opens up a new dimension of the instrument.
Dude I just picked up a g chord harmonica that came free for buying a violin for my daughter. I’ve been hooked! This video added an arrow to the quiver immediately- super glad I found your channel!
Merci Mr Gussow ! Really great lesson . This is a big help for me. Bonjour from Belgium.
Yes, thank you for the lesson. I'm a beginner and I have watched many of your videos. You really explain things well. I have been playing drums for 50 years. It's really hard to just play drums by yourself. I wanted to play so I dug out my ancient Honer Pocket Pal in C. My son is a guitar player so we are going to play some blues . I have learned a lot.
I was on the verge of contacting you about this. You read my mind. This is exactly what I have been working on as a beginner. I have some of your lessons. I was almost of the opinion that it was impossible but I know it just takes time. Thank you so much for putting up more info about this technique. I’ll keep working. See you down the road , thanks!
Iii
GREAT lesson thanks from The Gambia West Africa.
"Tounge blocking nazi's". Made my night, legend!
Thank you, Adam!
Thank you for this valuable lesson!!
Thank you, Adam.
Loved this
Very useful and masterfully explained
Please make an on the road again tutorial thanks for all the help
Great tip Gus that sound you make is what I have been hearing when I have been listening to your videos on UA-cam. Now to practise. Thanks. Old bones Bewick
Thanks. Very useful!!
Thank you so much Mr Gussow ! this was truly helpful !
Thank you so much, for this lesson.
Thanks, Adam! Very helpful once again.
Great lesson. Thanks a lot, Mr. Gussow. Greetings from Germany. 🤓
Adam is a legend..
I love your " How To" videos. I always learn something from them.
So true 😔
Always on the spot, Adam; amazing video.
@ (3:09) when you go Duh Duh Duh it is hard for me to know if I am Tongue blocking or not because they are pretty close to sounding the same. It sounds like something I have heard Kim Wilson and others do like Lester Buttler of the Red Devils Blues Band. What I don't see in videos that much like this one is some of the technics Sugar Blue does like Tongue Flutter Tremolo and ones similar to that I don't know the names of these Technics so I have to search them out and ask what they are called. He does not do them all the time but once in a while, he will play these
Technics. The Chicago Tribune said, "The sound of Sugar Blue's harmonica could pierce any night... it's the sound of a musician who transcends the supposed limitations of his instrument." Writing in the Chicago Tribune, music critic Howard Reich said, "There's no mistaking Sugar Blue's incendiary virtuosity. The speed and ferocity of his playing are matched by its inventiveness, with Blue packing nearly every phrase with trills, glissandos, clusters, and chords. At times, it sounds as if two harps were working at once... intense, melodically ornate, punctuated by growls
and swooping pitches, it's the sound of a musician who transcends the limitations of his instrument." I need to hear what some of these Technics they mention and what they sound like to put a name to them. In this video, you will see what is the Tongue Flutter or Tremolo. Sugar Blue - Messin' With The Kid (Montreux Jazz Festival 2013)..... ua-cam.com/video/7etZxikgW8s/v-deo.html In this video has some of the Tremolo or Tongue Flutter. Sugar Blue - Another Man Done Gone ua-cam.com/video/K03fZa2-JS4/v-deo.html Also this has Sugar Blue
doing Tremolo or Tongue Flutter Sugar Blue - Chicago Blues Festival, Juke Joint Stage, Grant Park Chicago. 1996 ua-cam.com/video/sVxsXtz1_Ns/v-deo.html This channel has more Sugar blue Concerts and other rare Concerts and music from the artist's Blues Records. I find the Tongue Flutter or Tremolo that Sugar Blue does is unique and different from everyone else in how they do it. Lee Sankey said it took him 5. years to learn it well. I feel everyone should be able to do it to become good at playing the Harmonica. My friend and mentor does not even Tongue block on the Harmonica and sounds very impressive sounding the way he plays. Thank you for doing this video this is pretty good. It brought me to the time Lesteer Buttler did this Technic. The Red Devils 1993 Live at Pinkpop The Netherlands
ua-cam.com/video/y1vRdbqN2ZE/v-deo.html The Red Devils Concert (50 minutes) @ Moulin Blues Ospel 1993 ua-cam.com/video/quZZVghuNnw/v-deo.html
Good stuff
Yes this is the thing I wanted to know.
Adam, thank you, for the great explanations, that your always do for us. If it wasn't for your super ways of explaining various techniques, especially the close up views, I probably wouldn't have continued playing harmonica and I have a success story to prove this, but not for now!
I have primarily primarily been a a Lip Purser, but use Tongue Blocking when playing Shuffle, Chord rhythm and/or a combination or both. I can musically detect a "lower pitch" when Tongue Blocking (not a flat pitch), but Lip Pursing sounds sounds a tad higher in pitch to me; However, I like the Percussive sound of the Tongue Blocking when used, even though you can effectively do Lip Pursing while comparing the two techniques. The recent Global Blues Harmonica Summit, showed us both and was great. Adam, I thank you for all you have done and are doing for the Harmonica Community.
Thank you SO much Mr Gussow! Always on the point.. your lessons are helping me develop faster than I would ever imagine!
Best regards from Brazil
that was pretty good adding texture to your notes.
Excellent explanation! Kudos!
shit i needed this, gussow you are the best harp teacher
hey maan! greetings from ARGENTINA!!! i just bought my harmonice yesterday :D and you are the gretest teacher ever!!! :D
Bravo bravo ! Thank you so much .
THANKS SO MUCH, this vid helped me out a ton! love your vids
Thank you very much Mr Gussow. Excellent.
Thanks for the lesson Adam. As an intermediate player ( I've been playing almost two years now ) I much prefer the sharper sound of lip-pursing, compared to the less sharp sound that tongue-blocking emits. Listening to you play both techniques, helps me to understand that I prefer to develop into a lip-purse player, rather than a tongue-blocker. For me; you sound better playing that tune lip-pursed. I am working on a new tune and was wondering how I can make it sound ' fatter; ' now I know! ;-) A simple and yet, compelling lesson mate; thanks again.
Tongue blocking sounds fatter indeed but that doesnt mean its 'better'. It depends on what you're looking for tonewise. As a full tongueblock player, I might add that you can get a mean and 'sharp' sound playing tongueblock. Tongue articulation is very crucial to that sound and its trickier to do while tongueblocking (you have to use the medium part of the tongue, doing k sounds). At first I didnt understand how 'the walters' were achieving that but when you get it a whole world opens up ;) . Adam explained how to do it in the video by the way.
At this stage of my development, I'm obviously not looking for the tongue-blocking sound. I can appreciate the sound that people like Lee Sankey make by playing in the style of tongue-blocking and I also like Adam's sound which obviously is a lip-pursed sound. I have tried a little tongue-blocking myself and so far, I'm not a fan! I know at some point, I will learn it and play some tunes that require that particular style, but at this point within my learning curve, I'll just ' plod along ' and learn at my own pace. :-)
Darren Batty I like how you see your learning process. It sounds like you know what youre looking for and yet keep being curious. I see things this way too ;) . Good harpin :)
Thanks mate. Curiosity is what helps us to push forward. The very same curiosity is what is pushing me to ' nail ' the A# on the third draw hole, because so far; it is very, very weak. And it is nice to meet a fellow ' curious harper. ' :-)
Firstly let me thank Adam for his continued generosity. I understand what your saying Darren, lip pursing for beginners like us has a more accurate sound. I generally learn a tune lip pursed and then try it tongue blocked, where it is much harder to articulate. But if you just keep switching between techniques it wont be long before you pick up the harmonica and play tongue blocked without consciously realising. I use both styles depending on the type of music I'm trying to play. and they're really interchangeable. Also tongue blocking is fun, I love the oompah band sound you get when tongue switching, which doesn't have to be precise to get some great rhythms.
Is that vibrato a fluctuation in air flow, or in frequency?
Did Jimmy Reed tounge blocking or lip pursing on the high notes on 1st position harp playing?
Thanks for the vid! Real cool
Nice
I need help, I am a beginner but in this lesson I can’t understand weather you are doing 2 blow notes with lips in different positions , 2 draw notes or 1 blow 1 draw, or 1draw 1 blow. What are you doing. It sounds nice.
He was doing 2 draw both times, one was with lip pursing and embouchre making only 2 made noise. The other was with his mouth over 1 and 2, but he was blocking 1 with his tongue so only 2 made noise
Thank you for what you do
Kool dat
Peace
Out
D
very good lesson Adam))
Do you buy the lessons you offer from Trade Bit? I’m interested in learning. I’m a guitar player with a recently broken arm. This would be a good time to learn my basics. Thanks for any help.
Hi, Schiken8,
Playing harmonica with one hand is like playing guitar with one hand: possible, but something's missing. Now serious, there's a lot (yeah, A LOT) to hands than just holding the harmonica. I agree you can play it onto a harmonica rack, also players like DeFord Bailey used one hand only. But if you do you are missing, to name a few: muting, wah, slaps, tremolos, cupping, extended resonance... and, aside of musicality, I'd say, some coolness ;-) On top of that, since you say you would start out from scratch, getting used to play one hand would cause you some stress in your technique once you get your arm back in shape and implement it (heal up soon!). To sum up, don't neglect the richness of playing harmonica with TWO HANDS! :-) If you eventually take up harmonica, welcome on board. Hope this helps, greetings
makilakixki
Hey thanks for the input and advice!!! Even though I don’t know how to play yet, I agree on the Hands, having a great part in playing the harmonica. Since I was down, I kinda wanted to focus on blowing and drawing single notes and chords. Then when my hand is healed I was gonna work on techniques. What do you think?
Adam's early tutorials are your best bet. However, your primary goals should be imho: grip, stance, breathing from your diaphragm, pucker embouchure and single clean notes. Good luck!
Wooooow tanks!!!!
Do i need a amplifier or just play through the P A
The tongue stuff confuses me, do I hover my tongue over the notes? Press my tongue firmly against it or on my teeth? Do i move my tongue back?
I get confused when playing 😂😂
When tabs tell me to play notes do I use my tongue and cover the note?
The lesson It's awesome, thanks a lot for share this knowledge
Awesome! Thanks so much!!
❤️
thanks I 'm a beginner I got 2 years but I'm considering that I have to learn more and more. It's not easy bro.
Good jop
OG
THANKS...IT WORKS
The ladies really should be going for the harmonica player.
I 've just changed to lip by this vdo ha ha ha
haha, keep trying and trying and I'm getting a head rush....dizzyyyy LOL
This is the most confusing instrument to learn 😂🌬
Tongue blocking nazis 😂 They are still out there. 😂