Ask Instructor David Barrett

Hello David,

Just wondering if Movement Scale for LOA-4 C-Major Scale if that is supposed to be recorded and submitted with a metronome? I see my choice of harmonica key, but don't see if there is a metronome for submission with LOA-4. Thanks in advance!

Ben

Chicago, IL

Hi David,

How can you combine tongue blocking and bending at the same time? With tongue blocking your tongue is kind of bend. How to move it u and down at the same time? I assume it is required if you want to play individual notes.

Regards,

Jelle H

Hi David,

I am struggling with the tongue blocking. Do you have to keep you tonque at eleven oclock also if you move from right to left?

regards

Jelle Hollema (Netherlands)

Hi David,

I'm currently working on Level of Achievement 9 "Movement Exercises – Scales". The PDF lists the C Blues Scale and the Chromatic Scale. I'm assuming you want both scales performed on a C-Harp, so I recorded them that way. However, the blow bends are a bit "screechy" on my C-Harps. I tried different models, and they're all about the same. I can get the bends, but they are not as smooth sounding as they are when performed on a lower key harmonica. Note that I can't get the 10'+ (B) at all in the chromatic scale. continue reading...

Hi David,How do you create the music tabs found here on your site. Do you use software for it?I want to make my own music tabs with your notation and wan't it to look nice and clean.

Alex

Hello David, I have 3 harmonicas given to a family member who thought he wanted to learn to play the harp; didn't work out. I want to recycle them for other family members as appropriate. He hardly touched them. Is there a good way to clean them up?

It was my mid-20s grandson who tried to learn the harmonica and it didn't take very long for him to decide it wasn't for him? continue reading...

David,

Hi. I've been working on the first and second chorus of 'Walk With Me' for the last week. I'm doing pretty well, but the harmonica fills quickly with saliva compared to puckering. I find myself tapping it to empty the harmonica a lot. I'm wondering how to minimize the saliva to get through a full song and if it's also affecting the sound (recognizing I'm still a relatively new player).

A few questions: continue reading...

dave been playing and i am in lesson 9 and you mention that you have books out . Wher can i find and buy these and which book do you recomend buying ? Thanks

I’m wondering how good my bending should be before I take the Level 3 test. I realize that it could take a long time, but must I get past sounding like a “sick animal” before trying to move on to the next level?

Here’s where I’m at: half-step bends at holes 2, 3, 4 and 6; whole-step bend at 3 (usually); and half-step bend at 1 (rarely). Puckering, I can get a half-step bend at 1 fairly consistently and a whole-step bend at 2, most of the time. continue reading...

Hi David

In LOA5, is it necessary to play 9'+ for F#? We haven't seen the blown bends yet. I can get it to play, but not with the quality of the drawls.

Thank's in advance.