Blues Harmonica Lesson - TONGUE TREMOLO (PART 2)

[droverboy1]

Lee, i cant believe i learned how to do this switch im so proud of myself and it sounds so good now you taught me how to open my throat and play from my diaphram. Your the greatest Lee. thanks Rusty

[leesankeygroup]

@droverboy1 Cheers again Rusty. Well done for getting the switch down. It's a sweet move. I personally find it takes constant work and refinement. I'm still trying to smooth mine out.

[proveit]

Lee,

Your musical demonstrations of the switching technique are awesome. Three hole intervals are new to me. Over the years Ive concentrated on mastering pure octaves -so covering only 3 holes is going to take some rethinking. What songs do LW and KW use the 3 hole switch on? Again, thanks a lot for your time and effort to help! Frank

[proveit]

Hi Lee,

So are you covering a total of four holes (1234) or just three holes(234) when you perform the switching? It sounds like the lower draw 1 hole is bleeding in to the overall sound? Sorta like your inhaling on the full chord (1234 aka DGBD) and while inhaling the tounge is swiftly yet lightly brushing side to side over the notes (G&B)-while letting the 1D and the 4D be heard as alternating with in the {DGBD chord} that is being played.

Sincerely,Frank

[leesankeygroup]

Hi Frank, It's not bleeding sound or breathing on a chord. It's alternating between two, clear tongue blocked single notes using either side of your tongue. Single notes are one hole apart e.g. 2 and 4, 3 and 5 etc.

So you tongue block one on the left side, then move your tongue to block the other note on the other side of your tongue. Then repeat and build up speed.

[leesankeygroup]

Try tongue blocking note draw 4. Then move your tongue to the left or right to hit draw 2. With a bit of experimentation you will find the personal movement which forms the basis of the technique.

Lee

[proveit]

Lee,

Are you switching between the 1 and 4 octave or the 2 and 4 interval? Thanks for sharing your great skills on you tube... Frank

[leesankeygroup]

Hi Frank, it's between 2 and 4. See my post below to Jimmy for more detail.

Lee

[JivinJimmy]

Is the tongue alternating on just two holes? Like maybe holes 3 and 4? Or is it more like an octave with the tongue alternating blocking holes 2,3,4 with 5 open then 5,4 3 with 2 open?? Thanks

[leesankeygroup]

Hi Jimmy

There's two parts to the alternation. Number 1) the tongue block alternating between the left and right side of the tongue. Number 2) If you don't move the tongue you would produce an octave switch (which is also cool). But if you move between two holes you get the effect seen in the video.

[leesankeygroup]

So think of it like this. Alternate between a tongue block for draw 4 on the left side of your tongue, then move to a tongue block on the right side but for draw 2. And so on..hope this helps!

[Tsutsomu]

Thanks a lot for your part 2.

Great stuf as usual.

Thank you so much.

STeph.

[nomoboy]

Great stuff, thanks for sharing! 5 BIG stars!

[leesankeygroup]

No worries.

[bigdennism]

Thanks for part 2 my friend! Interesting how all this works anatomically. This one is quite natural for me while the flutter is impossible. p.s. I'd trade you one of my children for the ability to play "Monkey Lips"

[leesankeygroup]

Hi Dennis, yep these two techniques are very much about the mechanics of moving the tongue. In a sense the tongue is like a limb you use to manipulate the instrument like a guitar player uses fingers/hands.

That's a massive compliment about Monkey Lips! Cheers.

[Tryharp]

I'd basically given up on this technique, too hard!! I got the flutter down reasonably well and was planning on getting away with using just the flutter. Hereing you say it took five or six years to really get it down though inspires me to get at it again. It sounds great when done properly.

[leesankeygroup]

Hi Jamie, thanks for commenting. You raise 2 common themes I think. Firstly most people find either the flutter or the switch much easier to do than the other. But with practice both can be learned. Secondly people don't appreciate how long and how much determination some of these techniques take to learn, let alone master.

[jodanchudan]

Great video - thanks. Are you moving the front or back of your tongue from side to side? I've heard some comments saying you should keep the front of the tongue still and move the back from side to side against the molars. Is that right?

[leesankeygroup]

The focus is definitely at the front. Try moving the tongue over the front teeth with the tip hanging over the top. The idea is that you are moving between 2 alternate tongue blocked notes produced by the front left and front right side of you tongue. Whether the rest of the tongue (back etc)moves is a personal thing. I'm going to post a 3rd video to address peoples questions.

[mcdookus]

thanks for the lessons Lee. Do you give rivate lessons?

[leesankeygroup]

Hi Luke. Thanks for asking but I don't teach privately at the moment. No time! The National Harmonica League has a directory of UK teachers though you might a good one in there. Lee