Tongue Blocking vs Lip Pursing Puckering 

✏ Get your FREE harmonica tab PDF and audio clips here 👉 foxly.link/f5gidD

No doubt hybrid is the way to go. Learning the tongue blocking has some challenges to learn. I like the balance between both techniques

This video was immensely helpful!!!

Best explanation I could find so far! thanks Tom!

Thank you, Tomlin! Very informative 😊

Thank you for the clear explanation...

I am doing a ton of tongue blocking now. This is a very good video. There are some videos on The Tongue Block Trainer and they helped me so much when I was trying to start tongue blocking.

Very helpful and clear. I will try them both

Thanks for this. I was beginning to think that I was doing it all wrong. I just naturally did tounge blocking when I started playing. Now I'm looking at all these video lessons to learn something about playing and it seems to be all about puckering up. It was starting to not be fun as I was forcing myself to relearn how to play. Thanks for the clarification. It helps.

Hi Tomlin, that was a really well thought out lesson. I think you explain things in a clearer manner than virtually anyone who talks about harmonica technique. I agree that either method can work well. Like you, I am working on using a hybrid approach, although I use lip pursing a lot more. One point that you made that I hadn't thought about was how lip blocking can fatten up the holes at the top. I will have to work on that. A couple of songs I try to play every day to warm up and work on tongue blocking are the beginning of Juke and Cissy Strut. One benefit I've found is that, contrary to what I would have thought, it's easier for me to located the six blow on Cissy Strut which you jump to from the low end when I am tongue blocking that when I try it lip pursing.

That's the best explanation of tongue blocking and its benefits I've heard. Thank you.

I think your hybrid approach is the best and makes the most sense.

Thank you for the unbiased explanation of the two methods. I have only puckered in my early learnings and efforts, and I’m struggling with the tongue blocking approach because the sound is not always produced “under my nose”. The off centeredness is a challenge for me. This video is nicely encouraging, however.

Thank you so much for your opinion and advice.I and many do agree with you there are many professionals and amateurs alike who have different styles or approaches on the harmonica.You explained yourself well and of course you took a little stress off us who love the blues and the harmonica well done!!!

Hey Tomlin, As a new player, your articulation of the differences in both methods was really helpful. Thank you.

Thank you!

Hi Tomlin. Thanks for your excellent instructional videos. I taught myself to play the harmonica when I was 12 (62 years ago). I learned tongue blocking from the instructions in the Hohner box which taught tongue blocking. I have never been a pursed-lips player. But, in the last couple of years, I decided to learn to play blues and have found it very difficult to bend notes while tongue blocking. For me it is much easier to bends notes when lip pursing. Additionally, while I find it much easier to do vowel articulations while lip pursing, I then loose all of the neat tongue tricks like slapping, pull-offs, splits, and progressive reveals. But, if you are going to bluesify your songs, bending is a critical success technique and I bend better when I am lip pursing. So, I am attempting to develop a hybrid style that allows me to lip-purse on holes 1-4 and tongue block the rest of the time. But, I still have the goal of being a fully functional tongue blocker and do all bends in that mode. But, until I get there, lip-pursing will allow me to play the riffs and bends.

Best walk-through on the comparison that I've seen in the past 2 years of playing. Funny enough, I've recently been trying to be mixed mode capable myself. That at the same time as learning overblows. I seem to be more lucky at the tongue blocking than the overblows try as I might.

Another great lesson and as always, explained so clearly. I have been playing Chicago Blues harp now for over 50 years and have never played by lip pursing, always tongue blocking. I find this much easier to gain clear notes and nice cords, with a number of throaty personal touches thrown in. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge my dear friend 👏👌

Very good video! I like the possibilities of tongue blocking to create rhythms in folk songs 😃

Loved the Blues most of my life and wanted to play "something because I certainly cant sing... trying to get as much input as possible to start out right so I dont have to break bad habits ....thanks much this was extremely informative and helpful

A great video on the pros and cons on both TB and Pucker. I guess I am about one year into Tongue Blocking. It is a big help.

Thanks for the interesting video. For what it's worth, new players, like myself, might benefit from a sentence or two explaining what Overblows and Tongue Slapping are.

Great idea. I thought I had to pick between them. A new idea that I can use them both.

Sounds great using a hybrid system, enjoyed that lesson, worth learning, cheers Tomlin.

Hi Tomlin. You made some very good points :) I know there are many tongue blocking purists (or snobs:)) but I agree wholeheartedly with the hybrid approach. Like you, I am a long time follower of Adam Gussow and when he started speaking about the benefits of TB a few years ago,, I started to try it. It really is worth the effort! I also agree with Adam that, when using a mic, it’s really hard to hear the difference in tone, but when you are able to tongue slap and ‘comp’ a nice rhythm, that’s when you hear what TB has to offer. Adam is known as a pucker player, but he uses a lot of TB techniques and he always sounds superb. I thought “if it’s good enough for him...” :) Thanks for another great video. Happy harpin’!

Excellent explanation

Hi Tomlin, this lesson is very conforting me in my way of playing, glad you brought Will Wilde in the puckering way of sounding good !! I was only puckering and the song that made me learning tongue blocking is Bring it on home by Led Zeppelin because I realise even if I knew how to make octaves I can't get that warm tone and the approach covering the first holes gently. In opposition I found myself more confortable with puckering while playing rapid stuff or very powerfull music that requiered strong attack using the tongue. Thanks again for this video !!

Great tutorial.

when I bought my first harmonica and started I went naturally to tongue blocking because it helped me count holes and play singles. Now, still very much learning (your course) I find myself moving between the two.

Hi Tomlin! It's interesting what you mean for hybrid approach: you think about a space division, from the 3 hole and the upper holes. I'm a hybrid player too, but I use to mix the two approaches in all the holes depending on what I have to play (for benging I prefer lip pursing of course). Nice video! Elena

I'm gonna go with tongue blocking. I love the sound of mixed instead of clear. I'm new to learning the harp but my dad showed me the Tongue and i'm riding with that!

Hi Tomlin-Great lesson and discussion topic. I've moved into the hybrid camp over the last few years. Like many I was a purser but adding tongue blocking opens all manner of possibilities on its own and I'm finding incorporating both in my playing opens a whole new dimension of playing by using both methods in a solo for contrast. A thought for discussion-I am not an Over Blower yet but hope to be there and have thought about the challenges of going from an OB to a tongue block or the reverse in a solo.That's likely and advanced discussion for the future. Hopefully I'll be able to OB by the time your up for a post on the subject. Thanks for all your great work.

I never heard the three styles taken apart and analyzed like that. It was way cool. I have always played folk songs, simple stuff by tongue blocking. For some reason I learned about 40 folk songs by tab at once and I played no blues. It was fun, like gathering memories of when we sang those songs as kids. With blues I have always been a pucker player with added octaves. Couldn't believe it but after all those folk tunes and improving around them mostly in 1st position I could bang blues tongue block straight up, bending etc. Toob vids and books helped me pick up some of the techniques you can only do blocking. If I wanna get crazy hard sound like Will Wilde made reference to. I would pucker a whole hard solo and drop back into chug rhythm. Love blowing harp. Thanks, Tomlin. Don

Well explained Tomlin, I only play tongue blocking as that was the way I was taught. I have tried lip pursing but to my ear , don't get that bluesy tone. Just a 74 yr amatuer player who finds your lessons very helpfull & probably best explained

I started lip pursing but started listening to Noah Lewis , Deford Bailey etc and had no option other than to tongue block

I 100% TB. The first these holes from the left side of my mouth and the right 7 holes from the right side. I find it easy to bend all the holed TBing when the bending is done from the throat. I find a can get somewhat of a crisp note TB by hitting the top of my tongue to the roof of my mouth, but that’s a work in progress!

its all about tongue blocking I notice a big difference in my playing and more color in my playing using the tongue blocking method

I'd never heard that Will Wilde point. Makes sense. Tongue can articulte in so many way. Yes TB can articulate with the throat. But less variations. For seal? Tape part of the back. 😂 Very interesting perspective on the whole thing. Balanced. I'll start with splits. Slaps? Mmmm... if I ever reach the level where we have to in THS.

I grew up playing thoungeblocking, but a hybrid is the way to go. I don´t have a clear cut at hole 4, but switch depending on the quality of sound I want (excuse my bad english).

Sono un principiante e l'altro giorno ho iniziato a provare la tecnica del tongue blocking! La adoro! Mi piace molto di piu, sia come suono che come approccio nell'imboccatura. Mi sento piu sicuro, comodo e rilassato. La possibilità poi di poter fare slap/pop aggiunge grande riempimento e carattere. Ho ancora moltissimo da imparare ma credo mi orienterò su questa tecnica, la sento piu mia. Per i bendig debbo dire che sarà dura, ma non impossibile. Ho fatto delle prove (con suzuki promaster in C) sul 4 e sul 3... E qualche volta (poche) ci sono riuscito, quindi è solo questione di esercizio 😁 tanto 😱 Su una special 20 in G invece mi sa che sarà molto dura perché faccio piu fatica nei bending anche usando il puckering

Very interesting Video! Thank you, Tomlin! You mentioned that you are pursing hole 1, 2, 3 and TB 4 to 10. I personally find it very hard to TB 1, 2, 3. On the other hand I feel that TB makes me sound better on 4 - 10. I do it the other way Round you do it, so to say 😊

Very nicely explained. can i play on suzuki easy rider harmonica?

Rule number one is 'relax and have fun'. If your lips hurt, your'e doing it wrong. I find the most effective pursing is done when I use the ring inside my lips as a guide... lol.. there is a name for where the lip changes from glossy to wrinkly. Upper lip is on my numbers. I 'V shape' the bottom lip with the lower edge right on the bottom reed plate. Harp should be tipped back like you are drinking from the upper reed plate.

I've always done both, and will continue to do both. Guitar is my main instrument, and I use a pick and fingers ... same as pursing and blocking.

I prefer lip pursing, but tb for splits, octaves and some switch’s and slaps once in a while... I think adding strong octaves and the end of solos and songs can be pretty powerful

Will try tongue blocking for the fuller sound in the upper range and slapping when I learn how to play

Dave barret was a pucker player,you still can find videos on you tube he was teaching with p metod,now great tb player and teacher!

I have been working on Tongue Blocking for a while. I can Pucker, but I want to mix the two. That is what I am working on now. I started out with a 3rd style to get a single note and it is call U-Blocking. It can limit things you can do, but it works and can work very well for some players.

Thanx Tomlin. I've been pursing for many years. Blues. I've always messed around a lil with tongue blocking. But never when I performed. And the fact about 1thru 3? Then blocking? I think I'm going to really start. And as you know Blues has that more deep choking sound its about time I got up off my lazy ass and just do it. LOL. Thanks for the inspiration. Blessings 🎶🎵🎶

I need to learn how to tongue block

I think Hohner may be guilty of spreading the misconception that puckering is for beginners and toungue blocking for advanced players. In the little paper pamphlet in the cardboard box of my original Marine Band (bought in 1980, long before youtube tutorials were available) there were diagrams explaining how to play. They recommended tongue blocking as an advanced technique, suggesting that beginners start off with puckering. I remember giving up on tongue blocking back then at age 11 because I couldn't play that way without huge amounts of saliva causing a gurgling sound... Nowadays I only use tongue blocking for playing splits, though I would like to learn to play slaps.

Hey Tomlin, faithful subscriber here !! First of all I this is an AMAZING lesson/talk. I went through this debate and just went with tongue block, lip purse, and tongue roll!! Anyways, I am discovering lately that I have been playing to hard and now realize that I barely need any air to make all of the notes and bends etc So should I play with just enough volume or should I play based on effort?

I go with the third alternative: U-blocking. I find that best works for me. I knew that freakish ability to funnel my tongue would come in handy one of these days.

from the first time that i play a blues harp was natural for me to get clear single notes with 'U-tongue' . now i play a mix of tongue blocking and 'U-tongue'(i don't know how to call this approach). what do you thing about? (sorry for my bad english)

Can you show how to play a melody and rhythm at the same time on harmonica, i’m assuming that’s done with tongue blocking. I saw someone playing oh Susanna and he added a rhythm to it. Sounded nice but he didn’t explain it. I prefer gospel music.

Howard Levy and Jason Ricci started lip pursing and ended hybrid.

xllent

my mom has that painting

What famous armónic players You recommend to listen?

T slaps,tonque puls,octaves... chicago blues sound!have to t.b. But i think that everybody Even kim wilson puckering blow bends,some high holes,maybe first hole ,over blows!you must aply both in your playing!!!cheers

When first picking up the harmonica you tend to fight to keep your tongue out of the way; - then I heard about tb - I must say: I don't think it's going to be in this life. I understand what Tomlin is saying, and I understand the technique - but my tongue dos not :-(( But then again; nice to hear Tomlin say you can have a happy life even so :-))

when I'm play tongue blocking, bending is much easy for me I play harmonica since three months and I'm 62 years old

hey tomlin do you have a lesson about tongue blocking?

Tomlin, I am a beginner and basically lip purse but I have tried tongue blocking but found it very difficult in comparison to lip pursing. How long did it take you to become proficient in tongue blocking (as an expert player) and how long should a beginner realistically allow to become reasonable in tongue blocking. I know that is how long is a piece of string, but in your experience with students some timeframe estimate would be useful. I am prone to wanting results unrealistically ( as per a lot of people I would guess). Also I have looked at your harmonica school but I am not on facebooke and really don't want to become one, is there another way of joining your school without facebook. thanks peter

How is this for 'way out in left field? I inherited the ability to 'roll my tongue' into a U shape instead of ever really bothering to try to use the corners of lips other than octaves. Definitely Hybrid

🤘👍😎

hele duidelijke lessen ,helaas in engels, maar het geluid blijft natuurlijk hetzelfd

Beginner here and it's lip pursing for me and probably will be for ever🤔🤔

It's amazing to know Christelle only plays lip pursing

What does Tomlin use?

I guess it's not do major (C) harmonica you use here ?

Come over to the dark side!

I put harmonica slightly deep in the mouth and get single note. I mean I don't make whistling shape etc. I don't do tongue blocking or lip pursing. Will this be a problem in the long run? I thought putting it deep and still getting a single and clean note would give a good control over a period

Hi Tomlin, I am interested in Blues music. I have been playing Indian songs using Lip pursing on chromatic, but also have a special 20 harmonica and used it in one of the solos ( ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-DqpAzTxMKW8.html ) I am learning Tongue Blocking, and now want to use that harp for blues what should be the good way to go ahead?

je n ai pas compris la maniere de faire.désolé

The flapping of your arms was distracting

I find that holes 9 and 10 respond much better when I tongue block so I guess I'm doing part hybrid. Thx Tomlin.