Ask Instructor David Barrett

Hi David,

I've been practicing examples ex. 1.2 and 1.3 of the Bending Study 4 every day on 3 harmonicas: A, G and D. It helps me a lot, but it's also quite time consuming -- about 10 minutes, which is quite a big portion of my daily practice time (about an hour at most). Have you any idea how to make this time shorter, but still efective? continue reading...

Hi David,

If I am not wrong, the notation of the 4th measure in the Solo Harmonica Study 3, Ex. 2.2 is different from what you play in your video. Am I correct? I suppose, I should play the video version, shouldn't I?

Thank you,

Marek

Man i'm just a terrible with computers lol. I want to submit my recordings for review but i have no clue how to create an MP3.. I dont know if there's a mic on this desktop, i'm at the office, or, I have an 1phone I can use, or how to upload to youtube. Not your general music question but would be greatful for any feed back..

Hi David,

This site is pretty amazing. Thanks for putting together all this content!

I was interested to learn that you use/prefer tongue blocking even while bending the 2 hole draw. My question is related to how you're positioning your mouth relative to the harmonica while doing 2 hole draws and bends. Is it similar to tongue blocking the higher holes, where you just have your tongue on the comb to the left of the 2 hole, blocking the 1 hole?

Thanks!

Is everything that the people you interview that I see on the side of different subjects also included in the interview section so that if I go person by person watching all the interviews I will get that information?

Hi David, 

I saw in one of the interviews someone (I forget who now) said that both tongue blocking and puckering were important skills to learn. That made a lot of sense to me (articulation and speed for puckering) and you seemed to like that idea (even though you focus on tongue blocking in your course). The tongue blocking is coming pretty easily for me and I totally understand why you focus on that technique as being the foundation for new learners. My tongue blocking technique is now much better than my puckering.  continue reading...

Big thanks!

your fine lesson

Blues Chromatic Study

has surprisingly ressurected a proud  harp of mine that I had eventually bought and never been able to use, a fine harp that was just rusting away forgotten in a box..

It is a great seydel pro 12 C in solo tuning (I am not endorsing that company, am just a happy customer).

After listening to Stevie Wonder, I have tried some chromatic harps but have  been scared off by their complicated set-up and their poor efficiency continue reading...

Hi David, 

First question is what is your current testing fee and is it one fee per level, per submission - how specifically does the fee work?

If I send you in a recording without doing the LOA, do you still give feedback?

Is the feedback different when doing LOA? continue reading...

Hi, Dave.  I'm on LOA 3.  I have started Accompaniment Playing Study 3, and am having a real hard time with what might be called music theory, but involves root notes, chords, positions and things like that.  When you lecture I can follow you but I cannot follow through on, or build on, what I have learned.  So, here is my question: is there a source I can use to learn about music theory, or the basics, which I can apply to my harmonica studies? Thanks, David.

Hi, Dave.  I'm on LOA 3.  I have started Accompaniment Playing Study 3, and am having a real hard time with what might be called music theory, but involves root notes, chords, positions and things like that.  When you lecture I can follow you but I cannot follow through on, or build on, what I have learned.  So, here is my question: is there a source I can use to learn about music theory, or the basics, which I can apply to my harmonica studies? Thanks, David.