Ask Instructor David Barrett

I'm sorry - I don't understand what I need to do for the test for "Accompaniment Playing Study 3" - where you write "Use a jam track of your choosing and play one chorus per hole of the harmonica, for the first six holes. Make sure that the note you play is a chord tone of the chord you’re playing over. Use Accompaniment Playing Study 3, Example 2.3, as reference. Present each note in whichever rhythm you feels matches the track you’re playing to best." What does it mean to play one chorus per hole?

I'm sorry - I don't understand what I need to do for the test for "Accompaniment Playing Study 3" - where you write "Use a jam track of your choosing and play one chorus per hole of the harmonica, for the first six holes. Make sure that the note you play is a chord tone of the chord you’re playing over. Use Accompaniment Playing Study 3, Example 2.3, as reference. Present each note in whichever rhythm you feels matches the track you’re playing to best." What does it mean to play one chorus per hole?

Dave, where is the jam track to this? I just see the MP3 with the harmonica included.

David,

Being my online instructor and all, I'm curious if you could take a listen to a piece I did and (at my wife's insistence) posted online:

https://youtu.be/e-Qelsnwbvs continue reading...

Hello,

since I started practicing level 2 of LOA I started to have problems with saliva and the need to 'burp' after a long phrase. Probably the culprit is the slap technic since it is the main difference between levels 1 and 2. I'm projecting a lot of saliva on the harmonica, so much that after some practice some reeds start to get stuck. Besides that, I think I'm swallowing air, because if I play for too long I start to feel the need to burp and I end up having to stop so I can relieve my self...

  continue reading...

Hello David,

I have another articulation related question.

On the first chorus of the song "Feelin' for the BluesBending Song Example #2", what articulation do you use for the 3' ?

It sounds really well artuculated, but I have no idea how to approach it.

Thanks in advance!

Hi david

Ive been with you for over 5 years now.  My technique is improving, bends pretty good, beginning to have a mind for improvise although my entire musical life has been "playing charts" so this is not natural for me.  While I have fun with the Harp as a hobby Im beginning to feel like Im treading water or running in a circle.

I would love to play in a band again I dont see a pathway for that as I dont have any contacts doing that and I am still not ready for solo work. continue reading...

 No question here, just had to say thanks for putting up " Snake Oil". I got enough on my plate right now but I the future that song is definitely on my bucket list.

Sanshinboi ( no need to reply I know your a busy man)

Hi David 

Some time ago I mentioned that was struggling to learn scales.  I have finally broken through.  To do so I made a computer spreadsheet showing the holes, notes in graphical form.  Holes across the top.  Blow, Draw, Half bend full bend on the side.  I colored the cells and even numbered the Pitches in the sequence of the scale.   continue reading...

Hello David,

In Verse 1 of " I Want You With mMe " after the 5/4 shake the second 4 draw denotes a fall. As we slide down to the 2 draw do we leave our tongue on the harmonica. Or do we lift the tongue off and slap the first 2 hole draw. In the " Cool Blue" video you say the tongue gradually come off is that the case for all falls?

Sanshinboi