Ask Instructor David Barrett

Hi Dave,

I'm brand new to the harmonica and would appreciate if you could direct me to the area with the definitions of:

- 1st postion

- 2nd position

- 3rd position

- Overblow

- Overbend

Thank you.

HI David,

I'm trying to figure out why my 3 hole whole step draw has such a bad sound.  I can hit the pitch correctly but the tone sounds choked and weak.

Suggestions?

Thanks

Can I follow this course with C harmonica that I have?

many tks

Hello David, you sure know how to throw the challengs out in Level 5.  My Blues is one heck of a chart.  Now I know I can sclock through this but the idea is to get all the blues flourishs and features in place.

Im stuggling with 2 (or more things here).  

1- I recorded myself and I can do many of the dips slaps and pulls but I'm stuggling with phrasing.  There are no rests in this chart and when I record it I hear big gaps where im taking a breath.  Of course when you play it it comes across as a whole flowing piece.  Any guidance? continue reading...

Hi David,

For artist study 1 - "Blues for Big Nate", is there a jam mp3 file without the harmonica available (only the backing track)? This is so I can record myself playing along.

Hi David, I'm extremely new to this website and the harmonica , I got a C harmonica as a gift and I'm interested in learning the instrument, except the "blues harmonica fundamentals" lesson says that I'll require an "A Harmonica" for it, but I have a C harmonica, can I still use the A Harmonica lessons?, if not where can I get C Harmonica lessons on this site? Thanks in advance

Hi David

Is it possible you would test the Amp "Artec PMD3-8" ?

https://www.thomann.de/gb/artec_pmd3_8.htm?ref=intl&shp=eyJjb3VudHJ5Ijoi...

Thank you

Börje

Hi David! Happy New Year. Starting lessons.. breathing through harmonica ..finding myself holding my breath. How do I regulate my breathing to allow enough air to draw and blow. Like breaths when singing verses of a song? Rick Danger Tully NY. Post script... did some reading bout Syracuse blues history. Had not heard much blues before moving to Syracuse area from Binghamton NY. Lucky had occasion to see ”The Fabulous Thunderbird in small venue in Syracuse NY. 

How many harmonica instrumentals should a player know, note for note? I realize that the answer depends on the player, and your current focus is teaching, but how many instrumentals do you know, note for note? How many instrumentals do you think a pro player should have memorized?

And how many instrumentals are you familiar with? To the point that, if a patron requested it, you could play maybe the head and a few of the choruses and improvise the rest?

Hello David:

In the LOA3 test in the accompaniment playing study 3 section, we are to go throught the first 6 holes playing a note of the chord that is being played. On holes 2 and 3, this will require bends, and hole 5 has no note for the I chord and will require an overblow for the V chord. Do you want us to try the bends, not play anything over those specific chords, or move to a different hole to get a note? Thank you in advance for your input.

Erik