Blues Harmonica Lesson: Tongue Block Bends Continued

2nd Lee Sankey video on bending harmonica notes with tongue block embouchure. Lee explains 4 different bending exercises using draw 6 in 3rd position that will help beginners and intermediate players improve their tongue block bending technique.

This video is part of Lee's series on tongue blocking.

Lee's harmonica blog: http://www.harmonicathinking.com

Email Lee: info@leesankey.com

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• Lee Sankey
• Blues
• Harmonica
• Tongue Block
• Bends
• Lesson
• Tutorial
• harp

[HarpoonTA]

Please forgive my misspelling of brainstruments on the previous comment.

[leesankeygroup]

@HarpoonTA Hey man no worries!

[HarpoonTA]

Thanks a lot, Lee. Keep'em coming (all the way down to the overblow technique).

About "Brainstrumts", I intend to read it eventually, but based on your brief statement in this video, I think you would find the "Rafael Mendez - Flight of the Bumble Bee & Mexican Hat Dance" (posted by Zooter1940s) clip very interesting. Listen to his words beginning at 0:42.

(I tried to paste the link here but recieved an error alert).

[leesankeygroup]

@HarpoonTA Thanks for the tip and please let me know what you think of the paper when you've read it.

[bluesnobrasil]

This might sound mad...but I can get all bends (though no overbends) up to 6 on a seydel but not on a L.O....maybe I have to close the reed a bit.

I may be back in Blightey in the next 6 months or so...what's the best way to contact you when I'm there,,,I mean for a class or 2.

[leesankeygroup]

@bluesnobrasil That does sound strange, there aren't any fundamental differences between those harps that should mean you can bend on one but not the other. Weird. You can reach me via a direct message on YouTube, Kind regards, Lee

[leesankeygroup]

@bluesnobrasil Ok so you do notice the difference in tone. Cool. Bending very high notes tongue blocked, say the 10, 9, 8 in 1st position, is tough. If you can bend draw 4, draw 6 should be achievable as well. Once you get to the draw 3 and draw 2 it gets hard again to hit bends accurately tongue blocked. If you can hit all 3 bends on draw 3 precisely lip pursed or tongue blocked you're doing well. Lee

[bluesnobrasil]

Yes...a much bigger tone! I find it easier to get around the harp as well...although, strangely, bending the 6 seems to be more difficult than the lower holes!!!

[hohner2010]

Thanks for this heads up, it is nice to know you to have hit this low many atime but i found watching your tounge block videos have given me something to work with and that CLICK you mentioned has happened my low went and i played for 3 hours in total today with no brake. i think i needed to watch and follow more than one teacher just to keep my little ol brain happy and wanting more thank you again

[GOLONDRINAS18]

@leesankeygroup well thank's lee!! i'm in that job at this right moment. gracias!!