Ask Instructor David Barrett

About a month ago, I decided to start learning harmonica by watching youtube before I found this site.  I did not know about tongue blocking until now.  I can lip purse holes 1 and 2 easily enough but I'm having great difficulty tongue blocking hole 2 especially on the draw.  Are you tongue blocking on just holes 3 and above? Not sure what I am doing wrong.  It's like I can't get sound from 2 draw trying to tongue block. 

Thanks!!!

Hi David

Im trying to get my hands around the improv study.  Just for clarification, while the lick you provide can be played across all 3 of the standard Blues chords, I want to confirm that normally when we come up with a 4 2 or 1 bar lick we would need to transpose those into their respective chords.  

I know how to do the transposition using scale degrees.  Can the circle of 5ths be used in any way to do the transposition?  {dont tell me let me guess] Ill bet really senior players like your self can do that transposition mentally or from memory.  continue reading...

Hi Dave, 

I have a very nice 16 hole Suzuki Chromatic harmonica but do not know what to do with it.  Do you have any books or online lessons I can refer to?  Thank you, Craig

Dear David Barret:I misused the function of "recurring fee" to not be able to access my payment account.Could you tell me how to deal with this problem? how to activate my account again? I'm talking about the payment account.My order number is 174524.thanks !(I also have another account for free lessons for one month,this account is ok. This account number is 174371)

Hello David

I found some youtubes of your performances and Im wowed.  

Im working mow on Improve #1 questions

1- I was humg up on how the AAA licks you show in the jam track example (2.1) fit across all 3 of the chords.  You explained that the notes used in that exercies were all in the Blues scale.  So is this then meaning that the D, C, B, G, works because those notes are found in the G blues scale? continue reading...

Hi David, 

Two quick questions that I'd love to get your input on.

I find ever since switching to tongue bending that I tend to place the harmonica at a bit of an angle to the right side of my face, horizontal angle that is. It seems as if I just play a bit better with less leak and what not with it slightly pressed against the right side of my face. Particulary on draw notes as the mouth tends to tense up more for me currently. Is this a bad habit in playing that should be addressed or something that is more typical?  continue reading...

Hi David

Ive wrapped up all the study songs through level 5 and want to spend time learning to imrovise.  As an old band guy improvising was not a skill I leanred.

I see the AAA chorus form and want to play ith with the jam track.  Im am now a bit confused.

1. How is it that these 4 , 2 and 1 bar liks fit accross the I, IV and V chords?  

2. Is the intent here that the 4, 2 and 1 bar licks fit accross the 2 bar IV chord and 1 bar V chord of the progression?  

Im sure Im missing something fundemental here.  Thanks

  continue reading...

Hi David,

I am thinking of starting to learn a second instrument (piano keyboard) in parallel to my harp playing.

Do you think it's a good idea or should I wait until my harp playing is more sound. Would appreciate your advise in case you have similar experinece.

Thank you

Erhard

I have my MP3 files ready to go on my mac.  How do i submit them?  Can I email the folder to you?  I am a bit confused on this.

Caitlin Martin

Hi David!

Thanks for the music theory studies! I now have a better understanding of music than I have ever had before. But I have a small clarifying question;

When I hear a musician speaking of going up (or down), say a 5th, are they speaking then, of going up the scale to that next key? Say, from C going up to the G scale on their cording? (I recently watched a documentary on the making of an album by Cream, and I heard that mentioned a few times.)