Ask Instructor David Barrett

Am I hearing it right?  On the sheet music I read 3 triplets (that'd probably sound really cool if I get them in synch), but on the example audio track, I'm hearing (I think) swing 8ths (6+ 6+ 5+ 5+ 5 5).  Am I missing something? 

David Hi. Wow you sure know how to challenge your students. :-)  The Big One Verse 3. 3rd and 7th  measures. The pull is 5432  DBAF. I find myself instinctively doing a slap 5432+ CCGE. These are very different set of note is that OK or not. Thank you in advance.

ps really enjoyed the interview with Jerry Portnoy. Great. Had always wondered who Big Nate was.

The Jerry Portnoy interview is fantastic.  When you are both discussing the concept of improvising, light bulbs were going off in my head.  I memorized Jerry's Blues for Big Nate, and it made this interview especially relavant.  Thanks Dave for including these interviews as part of your program.  Every one offers gold nuggets and inspiration especially when you play it out with your guest.

Hello David,

I have just started Solo Harmonica Study 1 and the biggest issue I have so far is becomming "light headed" too quickly when practicing the cord patterns.

Can you please advice me how can I control that or what do I need to concentrate on to avoid hyperventilating too quickly?

Thanks in advance!

Hi David,

I have been studying blues harp for about 7 months now. I have been mostly puckering but trying to switch to tongue block now.

The biggest issue I have so far tongue blocking (besides the bends :) ) is that I cant get that 2 draw to sound the same way as opposed ot when I am puckering.

I saw the 2 draw FAQ and yes I understand it is connected to my tongue not being "out of the way" enough, but well it really is not because I am tongue blocking now. continue reading...

Hi David,

I have been studying blues harp for about 7 months now. I have been mostly puckering but trying to switch to tongue block now.

The biggest issue I have so far tongue blocking (besides the bends :) ) is that I cant get that 2 draw to sound the same way as opposed ot when I am puckering.

I saw the 2 draw FAQ and yes I understand it is connected to my tongue not being "out of the way" enough, but well it really is not because I am tongue blocking now. continue reading...

Hi David,

I'm in the level 7 bass lines accompaniment study.  If you were to play accompaniment harmonica bass line and the was also a bass player at the same time. Is it best to try to do similar transitions and pickups as the bass player or not worry about that too much?

Thanks! 

Hello David, 

a friend of mine want to play harmonica. And he was asking me, if I could teach him like showing him to start playing harmonica and so on. 

I appreciated his request and I would like to do that, but I'm not sure. I'm not sure how to do this. I have a few questions, maybe you can help me out:

Am I ready for this?

How I know I'm ready?

How should I start?

What should I'm teaching him? 

Need I any jam tracks and tabs?

And where can I get that?  continue reading...

Im going back over all the study songs to improve them.  Im finding that my standard slap is too slow.  Playing Blues Creeping over me there are some tripplets that even when the tempo is slow I find Im sluring them and not separating them.  My slaps are ok but I cant do them fast enough.  Is there a sound I shoud try to make kine "Kaa or kee"?  I dont recall.

Gary

Hi David,

Ive put this question on the general forum but was not able to get any help.

If I find a song Id like to learn with Tabs Ive found it very difficult to find a jam track in the same key.  Is there any site that can adapt a jam track to a different key or must I transpose the Tabs I find online.  

Thanks a million.

gary knopp