How do achieve your clean "sudden stops" on harmonica ?

[Gatty1010]

Certain pieces require a sudden stops either at the end of the stanza, end of the song or sometimes even in the middle of stanza followed by complete silence of one or more counts.

What technique do you use to achieve these sudden stops?

[SlideMeister]

ANYTHING but using the "T" sound. (that IMO, is industrial strength tacky)

[beads]

I use the T sound. I was raised on a farm.
I also sometimes just take my mouth off the harp. Actually I think it's a combination of moving the harp, my head, and opening my mouth.

[Gatty1010]

I have tried so many things. It's easy on a stringed instrument, just put your palm on the strings to stop them from vibrating.

What exactly is a T sound?

[SlideMeister]

"T" which stands for "Ticka-tacka-tacky"  Of course that's just me and your milage may vary.
There are other ways to soften the attack and decay of your notes; the easiest of which is to simply exchange the "T" for 'th"  That's a no-brainer. I ain't one of them, but a lotta folks seem to like the "T."

[kvanbael]

In most cases I would block the airflow in the back of my throat. The same place you close before releasing a cough, but then without the pressure buildup.

I think people use the same muscles when asked to repeat fast “ah ah ah ah ah…”

But shaping a T-sound also works (just make sure Age’s not in the room
). To my taste that only gets tacky when applied all the time (taatatateeteetoo).

My 2c

[Keith]

As a lip purser type of player, I have no problem, just stop sucking or blowing - it must be something you guys have a problem with when you stick the whole chrom into your mouth.......

[John Broecker]

I'm with you, Keith.

I just stop playing to get an abrupt stop (a rest).

Stop exhaling or inhaling.

JB

[Gatty1010]

Yes Kvanbael, I tried blocking air from the throat and that worked well for the draw notes for me. It's like playing quick staccato notes employing the back of the throat. Just need to stop the first time.

The same technique is not working for me on blow notes though

As Keith says, I will try with smaller embouchure. tomorrow Hopefully I will find my Eureka moment in a few days

Thanks for the inputs

[Jimmy Halfnote]

 I often listen to Dinah Washington as a guide to articulation, now we can't come close but maybe it serves as a mental target,the outer rings would easily be good enough.

   



                                                       jh.

[SlideMeister]

Yeah, I was listening to her yesterday on wkhr.org.

[Gatty1010]

Jimmy, that's really wonderful.

[streetlegal]

For a single stop - like the end of a tune - I find a good way is to close the lips on the mouthpiece. So that the top lip meets the bottom lip and the airflow stops - not as abrupt a staccato stop as I can get with the tip of the tongue on the mouthpiece. This 'kiss' technique with the lips is more like a smooth stop than an emergency stop .

[Gatty1010]

Yes streetlegal, I can visualise about the kiss, not able to do it successfully and consistently with the while playing all preceeding notes with tongue on three holes. I am trying now with lip purse method. Hope sometime in future I would be able to manage these different types of "stops" at will consistently, regardless of tongue block or pucker method.

[Aramis]

A glottal stop is a good alternative to the T sound