If you were asked to name a famous blues harmonica player that didn't use tongue blocking, there is a very good chance that Sonny Terry would be the first one to come to mind. However, is it true to say that he never used tongue blocking? Take a listen to this lick from his 1938 recording of "Train Whistle Blues":
This is a fairly typical train piece, played in first position on a B♭ harp. The lick in question starts with 2 draw and 3 draw, then resolves to the blow chord - but listen closely to that blow chord. Rather than the full major triad in holes 1, 2 and 3, he is sounding an open fifth, comprised of 1 blow and 3 blow, without the 2 blow. Under normal circumstances, the only way to do this is by using the tip of the tongue to block the second hole. Just in case you think this might be a one off, here is a similar lick from the tune "Locomotive Blues" from his classic Folkways album "Harmonica & Vocal Solos", recorded in 1952:
This is another train piece in first position, also recorded on a B♭ harp, although the recording plays back a little sharp. Again, the lick resolves to an open fifth played in holes 1 blow and 3 blow, with 2 blow blocked.
Although he played a lot of stuff that could only have been done with his tongue free to do other things besides selecting notes, that still leaves quite a lot that could have been played either with or without tongue blocking. Given that he definitely used tongue blocking on the licks dissected here, it's possible that he used tongue blocking more extensively than is generally believed.
1. Reissued on Sonny Terry Vol 1 1938 - 1945 (Document DOCD-5230)). Click here for more details from Amazon.com.
2. Available on Harmonica and Vocal Solos (Smithsonian Folkways FW-02035). Click here for more details from Amazon.com.
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