Thanks for watching! Start your 30 day FREE trial of my harmonica school today - www.learntheharmonica.com/members-zone-signup

For anyone struggling with this technique, just stick with it. I picked up the harp 6 months ago, and have taken lessons since week 1. I’ll admit, my harp never leaves my pocket unless it’s to practice... My instructor has been impressed with the speed of my progression (bending 1-10, accurate single notes, tremolo, vibrato, starting to overblow *ouch), and has now re-directed my main focus towards tongue blocking proficiency. He states, “It’s much much better to learn both ways early on, vs trying to move away from puckering and learning TB’ing later... you will thank me for it.” Fast-forward 2 months of painful noises coming from my harp, and it’s just now beginning to be really fun again. The tonal qualities you can achieve via TB are unmatched. It’s well worth the struggle!

@iambeloved496

Жыл бұрын

Thank you for this I'll keep this in mind

I tried the technique and immediately had a MAJOR improvement on my single notes. All clear except i get a lot of saliva which is gross. But It's amazing!!! Thank you!

@squishedlizard8689

5 ай бұрын

I drooled too lol

Brilliant at 65 I'm revisiting something I gave up 20 years ago

@marly1017

2 жыл бұрын

awesome, I know some great players who started late

@TransportFever2Live

11 ай бұрын

Great. I am also back to harmonica after few years.

I don't play the harmonica but I like your lovely videos. Especially your beautiful british English.

@alejandroalvarez6765

4 жыл бұрын

He is amazing, harmonica or no harmonica.

@robinrice7097

3 жыл бұрын

Your should start if your already watching, then the that a bonus!

Respected sir I AM RESIDING IN KOLKATA WEST BENGAL INDIA AND MY AGE WIIL BE ON 1ST OCTOBER 80 YRS. HOWEVER I HV BEEN LEARNING BUT SOMETIME AT THE TIME OF PLAYING HARMONICA FEEL IT VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTINUE LONG TIME ( AT A STRETCH) BLOWING. SUPPOSE FIVE OR SIX SAME DRAWING NOTES I HV TO PLAY AT A TIME FALL ME IN A DIFFICULT SITUATION AS PER EXPAMPLE DDD d DD NN HERE D MEANS IN ENG. E MY REQUEST IS SEEKING UR INSTRCTUCTIONS HOW TO OVERCOME THIS DIFFICULTY. WARM REGARDS

Welcome back Liam! Thank you for explaining tongue blocking :) sound!

@Learntheharmonica

4 жыл бұрын

My pleasure!

Happy 100k subs 👍

Sir Liam, may I say I loved the show with the 5 youtube people 2day...and thank u 4 the lesson 4 tongue blocking

@Learntheharmonica

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks Claud, I had a blast! All the best on your harmonica journey ❤️

Congratulations on your 100k subs

best explanation about this was this video

Thanks, Liam. Your lessons are excellent! In the video you point your tongue to the left to block holes 1 - 3, so it's the right side of the tongue that's doing the blocking. Is it always so or are there circumstances where it's easier or better to block with the left side, i.e., point the tongue to the right?

@Learntheharmonica

4 жыл бұрын

Great question. Sometimes I switch the tongue to play hole 1 but almost all the time the tongue is on the left.

Thank you so much!!!

@Learntheharmonica

Жыл бұрын

No worries!

I love your lessons. Aqui no Brasil

@Learntheharmonica

4 жыл бұрын

Thanks Abraão Cabral!

Cool. I’m just attempting this for the first time.

@Learntheharmonica

Жыл бұрын

You can do it!

this was the best about tongue blocking

@Learntheharmonica

3 жыл бұрын

I'm glad you liked it! Cheers. Liam

thanks for your free lessons. a lot to chew on for me before i take the premium dip. i think perfecting the tongue block and pucker transition is one big thing i'd like to do, and that begs the question: is bending *only* with puckering? or is it doable with tongue blocking, but just takes more practice? i ask because your lesson on bending uses tongue position with (presumably) puckering, so if we're using our tongue to block is it more about using our diaphragm and mouth shape to induce the bend?

@Learntheharmonica

4 жыл бұрын

Hi Gagan Sidhu, yes you can bend with tongue block too. It's not harder, it's just different. You still have to apply the same technique, it's just that your tongue is busy already so it takes a bit of getting used to. Best of luck! Cheers. Liam

Are all chords consist of 3 notes?

Can I learn from your course if I can't read music cuz I play by ear? Debbie

@Learntheharmonica

Жыл бұрын

Yes, there's no sheet music on the course. It's all tabs and using your ears. I think it would suit you!

wow i love this technique , playing single notes is actually easier like this . But i feel like the corner of my mouth is getting really dry. Do you guys use vaseline or something ?

@Learntheharmonica

3 жыл бұрын

Hi realeques, I know some people who use vaseline/lip balm etc but I hate the feeling of that stuff, I just drink lots of water and lick my lips a lot!

Do tongue blockers always block off the unwanted holes, or looking at it another way, only allow air to a single hole? I'm thinking of curling your tongue around a particular note?

@seanpopple5984

4 жыл бұрын

I was wondering exactly the same thing. Please explain.....

@BazCBazC

4 жыл бұрын

Lots of different ways to use your tongue, basic tongue blocking is what Liam is talking about using the tongue to block the holes to one side of the note you want to play. But you can also lift to the tongue to play a chord then put it back - that's called tongue slapping. You can also use the tongue to block the middle holes to play notes either side - called splits or octaves. Curling the tongue round the hole you want to play is usually considered a separate technique called u-blocking.

@Learntheharmonica

4 жыл бұрын

Hi Kevin, the curled tongue technique is called U-blocking. I have a video on it here: kzread.info/dash/bejne/kZeVt5eydq28ndI.html

This may sound stupid but it's my tongue supposed to actually touch the hole?

@Learntheharmonica

2 жыл бұрын

Yes, it touches the harmonica in order to block the holes that you don't want the air to pass through.

MUITO BOM BRASIL SAO PAULO SP

@Learntheharmonica

3 жыл бұрын

Obrigado!

@marciliocampos4017

3 жыл бұрын

@@Learntheharmonica OLÁ BOM DIA ! VC TEM ESSE MATERIAL IMPRESSO PARA VENDA ?? BRASIL SÃO PAULO LAPA

@cinocefalia

3 жыл бұрын

@@marciliocampos4017 Não, chequei aqui e só vídeo aula mesmo. Mas vc pode comprar o curso do link e baixar.

How does one bend single notes with there tongue already in use? I mean, if you don't purse your lips and only tongue block that is.. That's the biggest problem I'm having at this point.

@Learntheharmonica

3 жыл бұрын

Hi Paul, it's the same concept, it's just takes a bit of getting used to. You're still trying to shape your tongue to angle the air. I describe as like "hampered cueing" in snooker - it's perfectly possible but it takes some getting used to. I'm planning to make a full course on tongue blocking later this year, including bending :)

@paulhorn7855

3 жыл бұрын

@@Learntheharmonica thank you very much.

Learned tongue blocking before I even heard of lip pursing

For those that are struggling he’s actually talking about your tongue not tung.

@Learntheharmonica

4 жыл бұрын

That's how they say it where I grew up! Lol

I just can't

ПОПРОБУЕМ РАЗОБРАТЬСЯ.

My tongue isn't wide enough to do this. Can't block all those holes, lol.

does anyone else produce more saliva when playing tongue?

@Akshay_Sri

3 жыл бұрын

I'm also facing the same.. Is there any technique to adjust the the harmonica such that we get less saliva on the instrument..? Or is it a common thing ?

@robinrice7097

3 жыл бұрын

I thought you should get it wet just to keep you transitioning more smoothly

@robinrice7097

3 жыл бұрын

I have a question. It appears to me that we are doing as lot more drawing than blowing when playing the harmonica. Is this so?

@robinrice7097

3 жыл бұрын

I also drooled more while playing along to Ariara Sfair. I think that had nothing to do with technique thought because I’m no where near close to there, but I am so glad you slowed thst sond down and transcribed it. I want to master THAT and I am a total beginner

@Akshay_Sri

3 жыл бұрын

@@robinrice7097 same here Robin.. I am still trying to figure out the best lessons to learn playing Harmonica..

The tip is in hole one😂

Tongue block Pengen muntah rasanya😆