Ask Instructor David Barrett

Hi David

I'm using Hohner crossover harmonicas,  but would like to try a different harmonica just for a comparison is there any other you would recommend me having a go with?  

Thanks 

Roger 

Hi David,

with the artist study “blues for big Nate”, should I begin learning it right away whilst working through the study song “Temperature” or is it best to wait until the bending section of level 2?

thanks

Saul

Hi David 

I can’t locate the supporting pdf materials 1.9 to 1.14 for the beginners lessons. It isn‘t showing alongside the other materials. Please can you advise me as to their whereabouts ? 

Thanks

Sharon W .

Yeah hi David, new to the site really enjoying it so far. I've been listening to some Sonny Boy, Big Walter, George Smith, etc. and jamming with the tracks in the key of A but I've noticed quite a few songs are in E or F or F# etc. im not up to speed with theory and scales or keys, should I be playing a harp in the key of E to be jamming in an E 12bar or an F for 12 bar in F So on and so forth or can I use a harp thats in a key that is one of the notes within the scale of the first note, ie:- say a harp in A the 4 to play in E as the 1 or is that just not possible? continue reading...

David, 

Hope all is well. I got an tuner app called Soundcorset and used it to compare the 4 blow on my three A harps. I tested each by closing my eyes and playing each harp 3 times in order to ensure a fair reading. Each was somewhat off. I’ve emailed screenshots of the three results. The Manji is the most acurate, while the SP20 is middle and the Rocket the sharpest. 

Do you have any explanation for this phenomenon? FWIW, the app calibrates A4=440Hz. 

Hello

If possible in Sharon's next video lessons,is it possible to cover bending while tongue blocking in particular the dip bends in temperature song . Thank you

David Hi,  I am studying the Chromatic in parallel to my LoA7 but have a question that applies to my LoA studies, well both. The chorus form of Easy baby Chorus 6 I struggle to understand why it is A  B/A1 chorus form. The first three bars constitute the A, the fourth is a lead into the IV measures 5.  Measure 7 is a change from A and therefore A1? We then have a lead in to the V chord and this is where I get lost as I would think of it as C. If that is the case would the Chorus form not be  A  B/A1  C?   continue reading...

Hi

I don't know what Study Materials mean

but there is a particular song that I would like to learn on the harmonica

I don't know if that is beyond the scope of your service

thank you

David,

I've been practicing my bending for a while now and have made some modest progress. Still, I anticipate that I'll be working at this for a while. My question concerns what to do in the interim. I've mostly learned Blues Creep'n Over Me, but without the bending. I've been reluctant to start Feeling for the Blues as it has many more bends than Creep'n. Still, I feel that I've sort of plateaued for now, at least until I've made more progress on the bends. That concerns me a bit as I want to keep playing and not lose the modest abilities I've developed. continue reading...

Hi Dave,

I am struggling to understand the major scales. I have been working on Ex. 3.5 and really don't get it. I am concerned as you say that it is important to understand how it works in order to progress.

I shouldn't be feeling stressed should I?