Ask Instructor David Barrett

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

Nose-breathing... how bad is it?  how to prevent/reduce it? continue reading...

Hi David,

I'm currently working through the fourth LoA level. As my main motivation for learning the harmonica has been playing country-style tunes, when do you think is the best time to start practicing that alongside the Blues?

(It is my opinion that both are needed because one is overall better suited for the happy mood while the other is well bluesy)

Do you recommend taking special courses or do you think having passed some LoA levels should be enough for learning the Country music on my own?

Hi David 

just getting started 

in your beginner lesson you describe that I need an A key harmonica 

I have a C 

will this make a difference in the lesson ?

bruce 

Hi David,

I'm around 2 months into lessons and have been moving back and forth between all the lesson modules.  I'm loving the learning process.

Independently, I had noticed that many songs can be played on both the A Harp and C Harp using the same holes.  The tones would be higher or lower, but the song would essentially sounf the same. I had assumed that the tones (notes) were the same for holes on each harp, just in different octaves. continue reading...

David Hi and my apologies if you have dealt with this but I can find anything related to my query.

Im trying to better understand some music theory. The Chromatic scale or more specifically the comparison of the chromatic scale as shown on the chromatic harp and the diatonic starting on hole one.

 My understanding of the definition of the chromatic scale is “the use of notes a semitone apart”. ?? continue reading...