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Forums :: Ask Instructor David Barrett

LOA 3 Accompaniment Study Questions

1 reply [Last post]
Mon, 12/07/2020 - 16:34
brshoemaker
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Joined: 05/06/2020

I’m getting close to submitting the LOA 3 material for review.  I have some questions about what is being ask for.

In the Accompaniment Study 3 videos you don’t cover the bent notes when filling out the exercise charts.  Do I also skip using the bent notes when filling out the written test exercise?

For the recorded Accompaniment exercise where we record 1 chorus per hole; we don’t use the bent notes, just move up or down the harmonica to get the note we need that fits the cord when that cord’s notes are not available for the hole we are playing?

Also question about example 2.5 in Accompaniment Study 3, you dip a 3 draw for the second note of the 1 cord. Is this just for a bluesy sound and/or to add some more interest to exercise or is there another reason for the dip?  If the dip was to be held too long would this then make it sound like we were playing outside of the cord?

For the first 3 study levels, I think I’ve only seen a dip with the 3 draw.  Is it uncommon to dip other notes?

Thank you for time.

Brian in Tennessee

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Mon, 12/07/2020 - 17:40
#1
David Barrett
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ExpertHead InstructorTeacher 10Level 10
Joined: 12/20/2009
Hello Brian. "In the

Hello Brian.

"In the Accompaniment Study 3 videos you don’t cover the bent notes when filling out the exercise charts. Do I also skip using the bent notes when filling out the written test exercise?"

Correct. You'll do this in LOA-L5.

"For the recorded Accompaniment exercise where we record 1 chorus per hole; we don’t use the bent notes, just move up or down the harmonica to get the note we need that fits the cord when that cord’s notes are not available for the hole we are playing?"

Correct

"Also question about example 2.5 in Accompaniment Study 3, you dip a 3 draw for the second note of the 1 cord. Is this just for a bluesy sound and/or to add some more interest to exercise or is there another reason for the dip? If the dip was to be held too long would this then make it sound like we were playing outside of the cord?"

Yes, this is for a bluesy sound and to add some more interest. Yes, if the bend (3' Bb) were held, it would be an outside tone. It's actually a very common note in the blues... it's part of the blues scale that you'll learn later in your studies.

"For the first 3 study levels, I think I’ve only seen a dip with the 3 draw. Is it uncommon to dip other notes?"

The dip is a very common technique. You'll mostly experience it on the 3 and 4 draw, but later you'll use it on pretty much any bendable note.

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