Ask Instructor David Barrett

David,

I'm in LOA3. I believe you mentioned in in LOA1 that it is acceptable to edit in GarageBand so as to string together segments of different takes in order to record an entire song. That way, a mistake in say the 6th chorus won't necessitate a new recording starting from the 1st chorus. I think this was your point. My questions are two: continue reading...

Hello David,

I found your hole change studies in the accompaniment chapters very intersting and a new insight on how to approach the harmonica. You tell not to memorize "2 hole draw" , but rather G.

Don' we better memorize:

"2 hole draw" is the root of the 1 chord or the 5th of the 1 chord

"1 blow" is the root is the 4 chord, or the 7th of the 5 chord

2 draw 1/2 step bend is the 3rd of the 5 chord

and so on...

I mean, not mention any note names, as the change when you pick up another keyed harominca.

  continue reading...

Never mind. Deleted.

Ace

pologies if this has already been addressed...I'm having a lot of trouble getting all the way through a song like "Temperature" without reeds 3 & 4 sticking, the result being that the sound getts very muffled or absent.  I'm trying to be very conscious of up-tilting the harmonica but still having major problems with this -- any tips on how to avoid excess saliva gumming up the works?

David, I have been away from the harp for about 6 months. I spent about 8 months last year on the site, achieving LOA Level 1. My wife has taken an interest now. I have found I haven't lost the chops I developed, however, I decided to start back at the beginning, and have progressed rather quickly. I'm really lovin' my Crossover to the point that if I had it to do over, I would buy a Crossover and be done with it. Oh well, I guess I can use the Special 20s and other models on which to practice tuning, gapping, etc. Now to my question. continue reading...

David, I'm starting to have some success at bending, but when, for instance, I hold the 4 draw bend for a while, sometimes I get a really high pitched metallic screeching like feedback. Am I playing too hard, or maybe bending a little beyond, (lower), than I need to. Or maybe both. Is this what's producing this phenomenon? It sort of hurts my left ear a little.

I just got a new challege.  Just met a new friend in our community who is a pretty accomplished piano bar style player/singer who owns a grand piano and wants to have a 'piano party'.  In fact he can play and sing very well.

He's ask if I could sit in with him and another guitar player friend.  I like the idea but Ive just fell out of my comfort zome.

Hi wants be to be prepared to play Piano Man, Yesterday and Scotch and Soda with fills and an occasional solo.

He want to play Piano Man in C and the other two in Eb. continue reading...

Hi David,

 I've just watched the video :

Submission #7 Part 3: Masking the Harp: Holes 1-4 and 1-5

and there is your part starting at 1:13. Is it possible to get that part in written form?

I just love it to hear and I would like to learn it too :)

Forgive this rudimentary question. I have been away from the harp and the site for over 6 months unfortunately, and I have forgotton when TBing hole 1, does the tongue stay to the left and rest on the portion of the comb to the left of hole 1, or do I tongue switch and play hole 1 with my tongue to the right; or does it depend on the passage. Both feel natural, I just can't remember which, (or maybe both), I did before. (I looked through all the materials I had printed out and didn't find the answer. Maybe I should just review the beginning videos.)

Thanks David

When doing the 1st study on Tongue Blocking, I notice that if I play a scale up an down, my jaw is kind og moved/inlcined when I am finnished.  My mouth isn't straigth or aligned anymore. It is probably because I am doing something that I am not used to, but If I don't interfere now, it might become a bad habbit, that causes more cramps than needed.

Is it normal that beginning tongue blocker do thing with their jaw that shoud be addressed from the start. And how to learn it properly? very slowly...?

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