HOW TO TONGUE BLOCK & TONGUE SLAP HARMONICA LESSON Will Wilde 

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In the 60's to 70's, whenever you purchased a Hohner, which was the only harp I knew of any quality, any and all models, there was a small instruction sheet with a couple of songs, such as, "O' Susanna", and instructions on how to play the instrument by tongue blocking. Lip pursing was not mentioned as an option, and I didn't know there was any other way or technique until I met a guy about '72, who was a lip purser. I thought that was awesome. Because I had been tongue blocking for so long, I couldn't get the hang of it right away, and just continued to play my way. Once I practiced and learned lip pursing, I started lip pursing exclusively and basically abandoned tongue blocking. But because I was so good at tongue blocking, I never forgot how, I used it to isolate tones/notes to perfect my lip pursing when figuring out a song. Now I can play both methods very well and use them interchangeably on some songs. Learning to lip purse opened a big door for me because there was a particular sound I was trying to achieve that was not/is not available by tongue blocking. It was like magic and a light coming on all at the same time.

Thanks Will, I am trying to learn all the tongue blocking skills. I watch Adam Gussow, David Barrett and others but I seem to always come back to you to actually learn things.

I been practicing all I get is my German Sheppard howling at me 👍 you Rock Will thanks brother great video

Awesome tutorial! Thank you Will

You and Ronnie Shellist are the Best RU-vid instructors for blues. Great tech, great tone, and clear instructions. Thank you.

Thanks man, I have a long way to go but with guys of your talent helping us new-be's out, the path will be a lot less frustrating. Thanks.

That's really helpful and super clearly explained. Thank you.

100% agree on the pursing method is the way I learned, I was on Facebook and asked if anyone knew of any good kick-butt harmonica songs and your name popped up, so I immediately went to one of your videos lazy by Deep Purple and was blown away by your skill

I've learned both lip pursing and tongue blocking. I found that with lip pursing I was able to get a deeper sound, because I was able to move my tongue out of the way to have a lot more open space in the back of my mouth and throat, which gives a deeper fuller sound. The vamping I taught myself with lip pursing, by first opening my lips wide enough to play through two or three holes, and then moving the left side of my lips slightly to the right to cover off the holes on the left side, while keeping the right side of my lips in position. Thus narrowing the gap from two or three holes to one hole.

Thank you for describing tongue blocking. My style of playing is similar to your. I don't like tongue blocking. Every time I try it just messes me up. Been playing 45 years and I keep learning more every day. Happy new year and best wishes

Thanks so much for sharing your technique bro! i finally got!

Beginner here. Great playing and great lesson. I really appreciate the very clear and simplified instruction. Thanks!

Thanks Will. Im glad to know you can get as good as you are with pursuing. Im not a fan of tongue blocking. Cherrs!

You are my harmonica teacher. You are very nice. You can create to play nice blues with your idea on harmonica. I respcet you for sharing and teaching. brother🙏

I've watched a lot of other videos about tongue blocking and this was the one that helped me the most. Thanks, dude!

You are a great teacher Will

Excellent demonstration. I self-taught and played with lip pursing, as you did. I eventually added tongue-blocking for the Chicago blues vamping, learning about this from seminars and David Barrett's instructional package. Although you and Jason play amazingly fast and clean with lip-pursing, Sugar Blue has said that he tongue-blocks exclusively, and he is blazingly fast also.

I've got a few hobbies and just added this one in. It's already becoming tied with first place. Nothing relaxes me more man

Hey Will, would you put out a video of how to play this 12 bar jam you played at the beginning. I’m a beginner and would be excited to be able to play that. Thank you. 👍🏻

Not a bad teacher by a long shot.I learned a lot from you,Tomlin and Liam as well as a few others I lip purse pretty good and my tongue blocking is starting to make sense thanks to you guys again thank you!!!

Thank you for all your helpfull tips just started watching these. I tried a couple of your tips while playing . Very cool

1/15. GOOD AFTERNOON, WILL. VERY INTERESTING! YOU ARE THE EXPERT!

Yeah.... Seydel harp the best !

Thank you, man! You're awesome 😁👍

Bang on

Wow, Thanks...super helpful. I switched to playing lefty/upside down, and my tongue is programmed to go the wrong way, and struggled to tongue block, but now i can use your style, i prefer lip pursing as well. Wow, and thanks again!!!!!!

Good lesson & good stuff to know. I am a bit of the odd guy, well I think maybe, you see I started out as a U blocker. It just came easy to me to get the single notes . I did a video on u blocking on RU-vid. I do want to learn more on TB and pucker. I have been playing about 4 years. Started at age 52. A late start but having a ton of fun with the harmonica. Enjoyed this and will be watching more of your videos. Please do more "How to" lessons. Thank you, Tony Stephens

You are amazing, thank you so kindly for helping me get back to the music. I'm buying a Fender tube Champ x2 on your recommendation, respect.

Thanks bud

Your good. Great trick for getting the tongue block technique

You look just like one of my coworkers named Ian. He's one of the coolest guys I know

Great tips. Ty

Will, thanks for another fantastic lesson! This is good for those of us who started out lip-pursing and shows us that we can find techniques to recreate the tongue-blocking sound. I am trying to learn by practicing both methods now and your lesson has broken down the advantages and disadvantages of both techniques really well. I have a request please. I recently saw Rachelle Plas on the Hohner Masters of Harmonica series. She does an improvised funky number which really, really is cool. Would you be able to do a lesson that helps to get the basic framework of that tune with some instruction on how to do some of the licks she uses? Thanks again for all your lessons and help.

Nice!! Very helpful

Specjalnie se zęba wybiłeś !

You're really good keep em coming

Great video! Much prefer your pursing method of vamping!

Many thanks..I prefer puckering over tongue blocking since I can change my rids faster.

Nice

thank you will really interesting!

Well explained, thankyou

Awesome brother

you're really inspiring me.thx

good explanation

Vc é féra!!! Traduz português....quero aprender tong blog....

Loved your video !!!

Thanks a lot, bud.

Obrigado pelas aulas, excelente.

Uau! It´s so very very good. Thanks.

Cool

Thank u will ✌️

Hi Will, and first of all thanks for all your good tips & lessons, appreciate! Question on the vamping using the pursing tech, how do you create that (missing tongue) slapping sound? My attempts only result in some kind of alternating wane between the single and the chord... Cheers, Dan

Круто

thank you

hi will, have you looked at doing any lessons for boogie chillen by hooker n heat

Hi Will :D Thanks for the quick response! Are you breathing in & out when vamping or only breathing out at fast pace?

hi from chile mensaje thanks you tutoriales its good

Love it. Keep it up... or low down.. whatever

great stuff Will. Can you do When the levee breaks,led zeppelin, sometime? Thanks

Hah, who needs tongue blocking if you can use the Will Wilde special technique!

Hi Will ! two questions : - What do you do with hole number 1 ? There is no hole left to cover with the tongue ! - When you bend a note, do you switch to lip purse or stick with the tong blocking position, because I find it harder to make a sweet sound tongue blocking?

Were did you learn it?

bravo!

Hey Will, I've watched a few of your video's and you are super easy to follow along and learn from! Any tips on making this sound better? I'm trying to get it down lip pursing and my vamps just don't sound quite as good. I should be starting with my mouth over 123 and then narrow it to just the 2D right? Should I be articulating it in any way?

1-How to choose which pitch to use in each song? one must have notions about other instruments, to know the tone of the song and choose the right harmonica? or do you have to always ask the band? 2-gaita and compass, when you play the harmonica you're counting the bars, to know the time to get in and out? 3-gaita and improvisation, is there improvisation wrong? is because it seems that in the blues of you plays a note it fits in the ear, but it looks like they could fit any other note, if it was not that one played. and when it fits a note of ear is out of range? 4- gaita and evolution, I learned many techniques used, but I packed, I can not play or improvise anything, but I know do almost everything that the players use in the songs, how can I get past this phase? Is decorating music?

OMG!! how fast can you play? lol . Brilliant lesson

Love❤️

Hey... Just to say that, though I'm heterosexual, I think I'm fallimg in love with you everytime I see your tutorials (or even listen to your albums... I have bought them all)... Keep that way, Will.

Key = G

when you play do lift your tongue off when you play or not

2:54

oh yeah ♫♪

What’s your go to harp?

👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

using lip purse, how much inside of mouth would sould the harmonica go to get a good embouchure? thanks from Buenos Aires

How can i learn the melody you play in the beginning?Is there a tab?cheers

Tongue should be relaxed or tensed?

have you tried the Seydal Chromatic Non-Slider? do you think one can play quick as well with that one? and do you think regarding what you mentioned in this vide that if we get a Non'Slider Chromatic that we can still do chord playing, vamping, tongue blocking techniques on the Seydal Chromatic Non-Slider just as well or that is only going to be good for playing clear tones and melodies with? We really like its' style and sound, but want an instrument to play well generally on of course for harmonica training.. thanks for getting back when you got some time! Really like this channel, you got a really pedagogic approach ! ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-yfecdKhziRM.html the Non-Slider Chromatic from Seydal as an example..

"The Regulator" by Clutch. I am sure they would be fatter, I mean flattered.

I am a beginner and I can't use tongue blocking still can't shape my tongue :(

I've been playing for 37 years but find the tongue blocking method difficult

God tongue blocking is really hard, I can't do it

Can't you bend notes better to when you're pursuing.

My freaking harps never been so wet.

Personally I don't think either way is nescesarily better. I don't think it has much to do with skill.

I cant even spell tongue

tongue slap? really?

Nice