Ask Instructor David Barrett

David, What does the italicized 3 above the 4 hole draws mean in Solo Harmonica 2 Ex. 1.5.

Pat Telzrow

Hi David,

I am struggling a little on the 5th Chorus. The first part is in bar 2 with the 5 5' 1234 pull and 5+, my problem in particular is trying to get the 5' then the pull. Not that it ia a true bend. I find my embouchure is all over the place trying to lower the 5 even a bit.

The second part I'm struggling with is still on the 5th Chorus from bar 9, where my lungs are bursting with air usually before I get to the 8th rest. Is there any room for getting rid of air before the rest?

Regards

Alan

Hello David .

I was given a behringer blue devil amp .I was wondering if you or anyone you know has had any experience with them  or if any good for harmonica

Thanks

I don't have any question, at least for now. I just want to say thank you for such a great job with this website. I've been here just for ten days and I have improved a lot, specially with tongue blocking, which I had no idea how to do it before and that's because of your great teaching method....That´s all I wanted to say, I hope you continue with such incredible work.

First off, I am loving your lessons so far! I'm working through the Theory of Music - 1 lessons of late, and have a question about bending. You mention that as we perform a bend, that essentially we are using both the draw and blow reeds on that hole. I would gather from this that double-reed harmonicas (such as the Hohner Echo and Comet) would not be "bendable"? That the construction of 2 blow (or draw) reeds on that single split hole would prevent a person from bending these?

Thanks for an amazing site and great lessons!

Hi Daavid!

Brand new to this. 

I'm finding that I can't draw any air IN when trying to block even one hole.

I'm sure I"m acually blocking more than I realize but it's wierd that it seems to be ok when exhaling but not on inhale.

why is this happening?

Thanks!

Amelia

Hello David,

Thank you for the wonderful lessons. I face a few issues when I am practising tongue blocking. Would be really great if you can help me with your suggestions.

• The tongue blocked draws are muddy/squeaky/no sound, not all the time but most of the time. Especially when I am coming back from 6+ to 4 and also this happens almost all the time when I keep the harmonica slightly tilted as mentioned in the lessons.

• Also, I get leakage (slight notes from next holes when I blow while sliding on the harmonica.

  continue reading...

David - I watched your small amp reviews video where you recommend the 68 Princeton Reverb. What about the '65 Princeton Reverb? Is it any different, or if so, what are the differences? Would it work equally well as a harp amp? What about the '65 with a 12" speaker instead of 10"?

Hi David

Congrats on an amazing website. I'm a complete newbie and im very inspired by the video lessons and the ones with your two example students. I've been at it for a few days now trying to get my single notes out. My problem is that I can see (in my self-made tongueblocking trainer) that my relaxed mouth position captures 5 holes, not 4, so Im having problems with that. I try to close up the embochure but I geet a lot of bleeds from surrounding holes. Any suggestions? continue reading...

Hi folks,

I have a question based on the more anatomical side of things. David, I've really enjoyed your explanation of tremolo and vibrato in your lessons. In fact, you're the first to flag to me that the vibrato is more so a relaxed extension of the tremolo, rather than, say, an enhanced skill. I'm the type of learner that finds it particularly difficult to grasp things unless I'm fully aware of the basic raw fundamentals of it, so this helps a lot. continue reading...