Ask Instructor David Barrett

David Hi

The “Buffet line”, what a great jaunty piece and great fun to play. Chorus 4 I see the whole first 4 bars as the lead/build up to the IV is just great.  I may be technically wrong but thats how I like to view it and play it.

Question:

Should one wish to end the song at chorus 5 and bring the head in at that point would one change the turn-around in the 12 th. bar and replace it with the lead in 3+ 3+ 3  4, to the head.

Hello David,  Back in lesson #1 (Fundamentals), you refered to Tascam DR-40 to record.  Compared to using Garge Band with ear buds and MacBookPro standard recording, will Tascam recording be of a greater quality than recording on Garage band?  Also, once song is recorded, do you export to Garage Band to add Vocal Choir sound effects?  My only experience in recording is with Garage band and MacBookPro.  Thanks. 

Hallo David,

After a few years with Seydel I would like to try Hohner again. I bought a few marine band for that. They have the slots on the side. Do you have to cup or hold them differently when playing with the Mic? Or does that not matter at all?

best regards

Thomas

Hi Dave - wondering if there is any easy way to search the forum?

Tried "advanced google" with some luck but not great 

trying to find out more about Gary's minor mambo

thx 

Hi,

My problem is possibly unfixable! I had Bells Palsy some years ago which leaves me with little muscle control of the left side of my mouth.

Obviously whilst attempting tongue blocks air is escaping into the harp on the left when I move up. Whilst I appreciate and hope that this is a problem most beginners have, are there any solutions or excersises you know of to improve muscle tone?

If not I guess the harp isn’t for me.

Hoping you may have an answer.

All the best.

Ian.

Hi David,

I'm finding that I'm not very good at hand writing out music even though I know how to read it.  I'm wondering if there is any software that might make it easier to write out and read & catch my mistakes as I make them.  Do you have any recommendations on that?

Thanks!

David,

In the introductory instructions to IS1 you state we well "need a B-flat Harmonica for this study" but then ask us to play the lick to any 12-bar jam track we choose. I'm a bit confused here. Are we supposed to play a Bb harp to a jam track in the key of A or did I miss something in the instructions? 

Thanks in advance. 

Hello,

First, I would like to say that I am enjoying the learning process in this site a lot. The materials and videos are great, everything is very well explained.

I am going through the exercises in level 1 and I noticed that bending and slaps techniques are required in some of them. (solo- bass lines, movement exp. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7.) should I practice them without using the bending technique? Just drawing those notes?

Thank you, shany

Can I reverse the hold on the harmonica, I am lefty and it feels more natural to hold the harp with my right hand and cup with my left.

G'day David,

First up, a quick thank you for the lessons - definitely the best structured learning out there and a great community here at bluesharmonica.

I was watching a YT video the other day, where the player was doing a -4'-5 chord, starting bent, and then releasing the bend and continuing to play. My question is this - is it possible to do the -4'-5 chord using the tongue block method? I can do it using the pucker, but I'm really struggling get it TB'd (I tongue block everything else, exclusively, and I'm reasonably comfortable on all the bends from 1-4 using tb). continue reading...