Modern Blues Harmonica: lip pursing vs. tongue blocking 2(AG.26) 

I've been learning harmonica from your videos, I bought my first blues harmonica two months ago and I've been playing since. I'm new to harmonica and what I've picked up from your great videos has managed to get me on stage. Now I don't want to sound like bragging. I just wanted to say that these were extraordinary experiences for me to get up with musicians from my town and it's mostly because of you - so THANK YOU for your help, be well, live long and keep posting! -Denis from Bulgaria

Mr Gussow you are a legend. Thank you for these snippets

Adam, you are such an inspiration!! You get me every time I get to a plateau in my playing you nudge me on. Thanks a million

Adam, It must have been 5 years before I recieved any outside knowledge about blues harp. I learned how to make all of the big chunkie chords lip pursing and I knew nothing about tongue blocking. I couldnt figuire out for the life of me how they made octive sounds. It was very benificial for me to not know because it forced me to experiment tremendously with the harp. Then when I finally recieved amy first outside info (your videos and Jerry Portnoy's CD) I was already half way there.Thanks Bro

I'm picking up the harp again after nearly 20 years away. I learned originally from the Tony Glover book and so am a lip-purser. I added octaves early on but I've always had a bit of an inferiority complex about not having learned tongue blocking. I'm so glad I watched this video - I now realise that I've always actually been a half and half guy. I use all the TB techniques shown but bend with my tongue well away from the harp. I also find getting a real strong throat vibrato impossible with the tongue on the harp. That vibrato is the hallmark of my tone - particularly on 2 and 4 draw. Thanks Adam - you've put my mind at rest!

A superb and concise clarification between the two approaches, Adam. I never understood the pursing v tongue blocking controversy, as I think that the validity of any theory is in how it works, to paraphrase William James. I've been playing for forty plus years, entirely self-taught, and acquired my particular little bag of tricks over the years when trying to learn a new lick or sound from another player. Pursing and tongue blocking came to me without a religious devotion to either.

Poland.I'm your fan.love You man.

@snoookie456: Hey man, that's great news! You're not bragging in a bad way, you're just letting me--and other folks--know that you used the information and inspiration that I put out there in video form to improve yourself. It takes YOUR hard work to make that happen.

once again thank you for theaching me the harp!hope to see you at hill country again someday. dan bower

Nailed it man... TB and LP both worth the work.. 👌

Sounds like you are at the zoo...how about a MBH version of "Stone Peacock Chase"...Imagine the stage presence that you could have. I have been working in Iraq for almost 3 years and have spent the past 1.5 years dissecting your video uploads and following your "rules" unconditionally...I am eternally grateful for the "tin sandwich scraps" that you set out on the porch. Indeed, they are devoured!....YOU ARE SOLID! "Living BAVITO LOCA"

ive never been able to figure out how to get that sound but thanks to this video i finallly get it. lets just say ive figured out your take on crossroad blues :)

Fantastic ADAM!!

Thanks for another great video...I still laugh and I believe made a comment once that you seem to be the Voltaire of the harp community...makes for great material to watch.

Great info. I am the odd guy, because I do a form of u blocking. I slide my tongue on the bottom on the harp as I play. I can TB, but bending is tough. So I know I need to try to mix both some pucker and TB. I can alway do the u block if I need too. I will be working at TB. Thank you for this video, it has me wanting to learn to TB. Good job.

That scream was me when I had to stop the video and look up "armamentarium" in the dictionary. haha Man do I have so much more to learn.!

@Muzikman127: I've never tried to do it, but I think I could probably manage. The sort of technique you're describing is one that Joe Filisko and Wade Schumann are particularly good at.

that sceaming that's me tongue blocking!

dude you are a great teacher..thanks for your help!

Thank you. This is really helpful.

Great video Adam, thanks for sharing:o)

sorry adam went to jason's site found out if i cock the harp slightly i can get my first two hole draw by blocking the one hole and cocking it slightly! usually stay on your site all the time no doubt youre my only mentor!taking a little of your advice and expanding my horizons.

one very very important thing. by playing amplified, you can't get this legendary fat massive sound using lip pursuing (if you dont use any money special gear or vintage amps etc), but by tongue blocking you can get this sound even on solidstate amp ,no matter what mic u use. i don't know why , maybe because mouth chamber i bigger, but yeas, don't spend money on gear, for super tone - learn tongue blocking. i know it from expieriance

@KudzuRunner you misunderstand me, maybe my bad english. Im not in one side or other side! all i wanted to mention is that very good way how to hear differences between two ways of blowing (lets say hole 3) is when you play amplified, cos in acustic way, differences in sound is not so contrast. like when you play in amplified. its my observation.

KudzuRunner you're a good communicator. Thanks. I practice a lot in the car myself-sittin still or drivin'.

@TheKy39 yes, you can do everything on a rack except wah-wahs and other hand technique

@sammcj2000: I'm conjuring up the spirit of offended lip pursers and/or tongue blockers. It might amaze people who aren't part of the subculture, but many people take the issue very (too) seriously. I'm poking fun at them.

Looking forward to seeing you in Fort Lauderdale Feb 2014

interesting video!

Appropo of nothing, in the Dirks book about Little Walter, doesn't he write that LW used U-blocking?

Thanks!

Cool song at the end, great voice! I have a question: can I do all these stuff playing on harmonica which is on the harm holder? Is it possible? :] (sorry for my english)

have the toughest time blocking the one hole when just playing the two!

awh lol, there's that scream again!

man i have been playing playing quite a few years and can't seem to tongue block for the life me I just don't have the coordination with my tongue. any tips or advice?

@kloijhi: What can I say? You have no idea what you're talking about.