blues harmonica techniques: adding texture to single notes 

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.

Always on the spot, Adam; amazing video.

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.

"Tounge blocking nazi's". Made my night, legend!

Great tip Gus that sound you make is what I have been hearing when I have been listening to your videos on RU-vid. Now to practise. Thanks. Old bones Bewick

hey maan! greetings from ARGENTINA!!! i just bought my harmonice yesterday :D and you are the gretest teacher ever!!! :D

Thank you very much Mr Gussow. Excellent.

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, Adam! Very helpful once again.

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!

Thank you so much Mr Gussow ! this was truly helpful !

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

Merci Mr Gussow ! Really great lesson . This is a big help for me. Bonjour from Belgium.

Thank you, Adam.

Excellent explanation! Kudos!

GREAT lesson thanks from The Gambia West Africa.

I love your " How To" videos. I always learn something from them.

Loved this Very useful and masterfully explained

Thank you, Adam!

Thank you for this valuable lesson!!

Great lesson. Thanks a lot, Mr. Gussow. Greetings from Germany. 🤓

The lesson It's awesome, thanks a lot for share this knowledge

Adam is a legend..

Thank you so much, for this lesson.

THANKS SO MUCH, this vid helped me out a ton! love your vids

very good lesson Adam))

shit i needed this, gussow you are the best harp teacher

Bravo bravo ! Thank you so much .

that was pretty good adding texture to your notes.

Thanks for the vid! Real cool

Awesome! Thanks so much!!

Please make an on the road again tutorial thanks for all the help

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.

Good stuff

THANKS...IT WORKS

Yes this is the thing I wanted to know.

Wooooow tanks!!!!

Thank you for what you do Kool dat Peace Out D

Is that vibrato a fluctuation in air flow, or in frequency?

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.

Hello Mr. Gussows, I myself only play in tongue blockers so I learned it. Have you written books and can you get books in German? I do not speak English Best wishes from Germany

Nice

Cool

Do i need a amplifier or just play through the P A

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.

❤️

Did Jimmy Reed tounge blocking or lip pursing on the high notes on 1st position harp playing?

OG

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?

@ (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)..... ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-7etZxikgW8s.html In this video has some of the Tremolo or Tongue Flutter. Sugar Blue - Another Man Done Gone ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-K03fZa2-JS4.html Also this has Sugar Blue doing Tremolo or Tongue Flutter Sugar Blue - Chicago Blues Festival, Juke Joint Stage, Grant Park Chicago. 1996 ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-sVxsXtz1_Ns.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 ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-y1vRdbqN2ZE.html The Red Devils Concert (50 minutes) @ Moulin Blues Ospel 1993 ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-quZZVghuNnw.html

Good jop

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.

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. 😂