Considering how difficult it must be to describe something that seems to require such kinesthetic precision and would likely be fairly incomprehensible to beginners like me, I appreciate that various teachers of the harmonica seek to come up with terms in an attempt to describe the almost indescribable. I imagine these sincere efforts can sometimes be somewhat misleading and / or other times help the vast majority of new learners “get it” after a little effort. Seems like every teacher I’ve watched refers to the technique using their favored term, but out of necessity will spend an inordinate amount of time trying to describe what it means along with examples. I think that goes to show how difficult it must be to succinctly describe such a technique.
Thanks to @Luke and @KeroroRinChou for their efforts in adding clarity to the various terms.
Thanks @burpsan! And I just want to make sure that we are all clear on this subject: Lip blocking, lip pursing, puckering, and semi-pucker, are all different words for the same technique.
Hi all! I know this is an old thread but considering I ran across it in June 2024 I’m sure others will also.
Lots of great info on this thread. I’m not going to pretend to know anything about playing harp because I’m only a couple months in. I just wanted to address the misconception about playing different styles of music. I am primarily a pedal steel guitarist and one of my mentors and a friend is Nashville session steel player Paul Franklin. Paul has played with a who’s who list of musicians in All styles. While most of his work is in country and Americana music, he can play ANY style of music he cares to. Bebop, jazz, blues, rock…Heck he is even on a Megadeath album playing pedal steel.
The difference in styles is not note selection (or in harmonicas case position) but phrasing. You can use the same notes in a johnny cash song as you do a John Lennon song. You can use the same licks in a bluegrass song as you do a metal song. The difference is how you phrase it.
The only limit is your imagination. I just wanted to share that so people don’t make the same mistake they often do with pedal steel. That mistake is thinking “it’s a country instrument”. Don’t think of a harmonica as a “blues instrument” or any other genre…… rather the harmonica is a very expressive instrument that can add to any song in any genre.
Let me also throw this out to beginners like me who may get discouraged. I was told “guys who you admire and look up to don’t have some magic bullet. The only thing they have that you don’t is a lot of time and determination ” Remember, every great player was once where you (and I) are. With dedication and determination you can accomplish your goals.
I’ve just been learning the harp a little longer than you. I don’t want to limit myself to just one or two genres for myself and my harp. The different styles of music are far too diverse for that and the harp can and must show its diversity when used.
I like to test it out and still have so much to learn. Recently I even made a techno mix with it for fun…Very interesting and it was fun. Anything that’s fun is allowed and tastes differ.
Thanks for the welcome! Yeah right now I’m just getting the fundamentals down. A house won’t stand without a solid foundation right?
I’ve got bends down quite good…. Except the tone and a half bend on hole 3 that tends to give me fits. I’ve got blow bends decently but am working to control them better. Past that I’m drawing on what I know; pedal steel licks. You mentioned a techno playlist. I listen to everything from hip hop to classical to gospel to bebop. I’d rather have it and not need it than need it and not have it.
This song comes from an older film that is very well-known here in Europe. The song was at the top of the charts here for several weeks at the end of the year with vocals from the original, in a techno version.
I had to find the notes myself. I also had to play the background on the keyboard.
! You are very generous, I still have so much to learn.