Ask Instructor David Barrett

David,

I am very technical, scientific person.

Music was a mistery for most of my life. To play an instrument was like flying into space - something out reach, only for special people.

Yet recently I played harmonica for my friends, and they liked it.

Then I jammed with another friend who plays guitar. Just one song. We didn't fully match, but then we did - it was awesome.

Now I am COMPSING an instrumental. Just few licks, but they sound so good.

These are increadible achievement for me, I still cannot believe it. continue reading...

Hi David,

I've got a question - and perhaps I'm missing something but - in Ex. 1.11 (and the corresponding lecture associated with it) we are being asked to study/memorize the notes on a "C" harmonica, however the subsequent piece that is offered for practice is for an "A" harmonica. 

Is there something I am missing here? Why aren't we being asked to study/memorize the notes on an "A" harp, particularly the locations of the i IV & V's ?

I'm sure it's something easy, and look forward to your comments.

G~

Hi David,in bending study #2, Feelin' for the Blues song, 5th Chorus end, there is the two note combination 12. Having studied the pulls (tongue blocking study #3) for me it is instinctive to play the 12 combination as a pull. Do you think it is OK or it is better to play the combination without the pull?Thank you in advance, Stefano

I am working on Improvising Study 1 - chorus forms with fills.

I have a 4-bar lick = 3 active bars + 1 bar rest.

I try to fill the rest bar, and most of my ideas end up rhytmically same as the main lick (i.e not very different in character). I don't feel enough space to fit something "different" except maybe, a "lead up" to another measure.

Would you fill the 1 bar rest, or would you shorten the lick to 2 bars, and then have whole 2 bars for filling?

  continue reading...

Dear Instructo,

I’m an Italian and I speak English but frankly speaking I’m not able to understand 100% of  your video. My question is : I have done the exercise for the tongue blocking and during blowing I’m able to cover the holes 1-3 and produce the  4 sound but if I draw nothing sound . I breathe the air but it seem the it pass about the Harmonica.  Where is the mistake?

thank you fo your help

Hi David,

I‘d like to upgrade by VHT Special 6 speaker. Would you recommend the same Weber that you recommend in the videos about upgrading the Laney Cub 10 speaker? People always seem to mention the Eminence Lil Buddy when talking about upgrading this amp. 

Thanks very much!

Hi David,

I'm learning accompaniment playing study 5, 7th chords and I'm practicing blues creepin'over me. I wonder how to do the tremolo on the 3 hole half step draw bend (Gb) (IV7 chord in verse 3) because as I try to open/close my throat, the pitch is going to rise up to the G. Do you have a tip ?

Thank you 

Ive been mulling this idea after watching and reading the work the author speaks to about playing harp.  Its an interesting idea and I am sure good players do this.  His work was a bit too achedemic for me get into my head.  

I was fortunate to be able to meet a touring/studio musician last night at a party.  He's a wizard on lead guitar and I ask him.  He did not pick up on mental model but said he goes from mental vision of the song to guitar fingering and music.  But this guy has been playing since he was 9 years old.   continue reading...

Hi David,

Are you able to comment on best practices with regards  to approachping each section within a LOA?

Should we spend an allotted amount of time on each section/practice session  or should we be working on one section until completed (then move on to the next section)? 

As always, your thoughts are greatly appreciated.

Cheers,

G~

When I practice scales to jam tracks, I notice that certain grooves tend better to different subdivisions of notes. For example, tramps and rhumbas have that straight eighth feel, and it's easier to play eighth notes and sixteenth notes for me. In a slow blues or a Jimmy Reed shuffle, maybe triplets feel easier. This comes naturally to me.

Do you think that certain subdivisions of notes tend to feel more right in certain grooves? 

Or should I be fighting my natural inclinations? Should I work hard to train myself to play EVERY subdivision of notes in EVERY groove?