Tongue Blocking VS Puckering for Playing Single Notes (Harmonica Lesson) 

I had a similar issue and fixed it by trying to completely seal the air around the harp, so much so that you can feel a sort of vacuum when drawing or blowing… this is the base for getting that super thick fat tone everyone is going for… by doing this, I was able to figure out that I need to to shift the harp a bit more towards the side of my face, and use my face more to help seal off the harp instead of just hands. When I tried before, it was all hands and it felt very difficult to maintain embouchure and a good grip on the mic. After a couple weeks of doing this, I naturally found what worked best for holding the mic/harp and getting a nice fat tone.

Yeah, it's good for that too.

Yes, I use slaps on octaves somtimes too.

Yeah, you can just put your tongue on the bit of wood/plastic to the left of hole 1 if you want to stay in the tongue block embouchure, or you can learn to block out of the right hand side of your mouth, or just switch to pucker on that hole, whatever works for you.

Use the side of your tongue. When blocking holes to the left, use the right side of the tongue.

Throat vibrato

Thanks a lot Claudia, glad you are enjoying the videos. I may run a promotion soon.

I use (and teach) both techniques, depending on what sound I want. Both are valid and useful for different things. To me, restricting yourself to only using one or the other is like a guitarist saying they ONLY use their neck pickup or their bridge pickup, it's two different sounds.

@@willharmonicawilde Agreed totally. It comes down to what the player wants to sound like.when you take into account tho, that most new players are walking up to a teacher wanting to learn blues harp after hearing Little Walter or Big Walter, Howlin' Wolf, William Clarke.... All those guys tongue blocked. (Interchanged with lips every now and again)They wanna learn the traditional stuff. They need to tongue block. Also, as a tongue blocker I don't find myself needing to lip purse for anything I play (jump and traditional/electric blues) however, the same cannot be said for a lip purser. Ive seen you explain a technique for lip pursers to try and mimic the vamp sound which comes way easier as a tongue blocker. Lip pursers need to interchange ALOT in traditional blues for flutters, tongue splits ect. When it comes to bending, again that comes easy for a tongue blocker who started out that way. Playing fast is also very easy... Its simply a matter of being able to hit every note on point at speed... No issues. Sugar Blue is a prime example. I believe a majority of lip pursers feel it's too much work to go back to the beginning and learn this new technique. I love what you do, Will and I truly believe you and Jason Ricci inspired a new generation of player.... Players that wanna shred on the harp. Players who wanna play the Freebird solo or rip 16th notes in gypsy jazz fashion. These players are left stumped when they come to play traditional blues however. For the most part, a lip purser who hasn't locked in a great tone trying to play traditional Chicago blues sound like a cheap ripoff and are exposed quickly... However a tongue blocker can shred on the harp and slow it down to get that great warm, thick tone when playing Chicago blues. It makes more sense to learn as a tongue blocker first. Those who are "put off" by tongue blocking..... Well the harp isn't for you. If youre a player who's interested in niche harp playing only then lip pursing is your go to. Long story short. Tongue blockers can do 95% of what a lip purser does. However,a lip purser couldn't make it through, let's say Big Walters boogie without needing to tongue block at some point. It just makes more sense to learn as a tongue blocker.

@@mayday6jna “Those who are put off by tongue blocking…well the harp isn’t for you.” Elitist nonsense, brother. Harmonica is an amazing instrument that just about anyone can master with practice and guidance from the right people. Guys like Will and Jason are making it accessible to so many, not just because they’re great teachers, but because they’re great people that encourage folks who are new to the instrument. So, yeah, I get it. Tongue blocking is a critical technique for serious players. But Howard Levy might have something to say about the benefits of lip pursing…😂

What about Butterfield? From what I've heard, if you want to try to sound like him I think you need to play pucker. Am I wrong?

@@landztranz Butterfield does both. All the greats can both pucker or tongue block, depending on what they’re playing.