Skip to main content
Blues Harmonica logo

User Account

Username:*
Password:*
Forgot Your Password?

Visitor Menu

  • Sign Up
  • Sample Lesson #1
  • Sample Lesson #2
  • Student Recordings
  • Forums
Forums :: Ask Instructor David Barrett

Learning a piece

1 reply [Last post]
Thu, 09/06/2018 - 20:11
Rednblues31
Rednblues31's picture
Offline
Joined: 08/29/2018

G'day David. Although I have been "playing" for about 4 years I'm completely new to tongue blocking and I'm finding it not quite as difficult as I thought it might be. My question involves "learning" a piece such as Walk with Me. When do you consider the piece has been learned? Is it when the piece can be played competently from the sheet music or when it has been committed to memory? I have always followed the latter but since Walk with Me is the first study I would be a bit surprised if a student picking up a harp for the first time would manage that a week into learning music/harp. What are your expectations?

Cheers, Keith

Top
Fri, 09/07/2018 - 07:49
#1
David Barrett
David Barrett's picture
Offline
ExpertHead InstructorTeacher 10Level 10
Joined: 12/20/2009
Hello Keith. I'm glad tongue

Hello Keith. I'm glad tongue blocking is coming along for you.

Each chorus of a study song represents about two week's worth of work. For "Walk With Me" that means three months of study. As an end-goal, playing with the sheet music is fine. If there's a piece you like a lot, then once you're done studying it (you can play it well with the jam track, with sheet music), even though you'll be moving on to other material, play the song every day (once) without the sheet music until you can confidently play that song. This will help you when it comes to playing at a jam (you have a song ready to play), as well as in building improvising vocabulary (your vocabulary comes from the songs you've studied).

Top

Sign me up!

Full access to all lessons starts at $20/month! (with annual subscription)

Subscribe

Free Sample Lessons

After watching the BluesHarmonica.com overview video, try one of the lessons below to experience a lesson at BluesHarmonica.com.

  • Tongue Blocking Study 2 – This study is for the newer player or the player new to tongue blocking
  • Bending Study 5 – This is for the advanced player looking to improve their bending skills

Contributors

  • Aki Kumar
  • Joe Tartaglia
  • Gary Smith
  • Mark Hummel
  • Joe Filisko

Site Links

  • About David Barrett
  • Accredited Instructors
  • Links
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Contact Us
Hohner
© 2009 - 2025 David Barrett and the Harmonica Masterclass Co. for Bluesharmonica.com