Ask Instructor David Barrett

David,

In your latest amp review for the Valve Train Tall Boy, you mention something that piqued my interest. You said that you're no longer using the Dan Echo pedal for your reviews because the circuit had recently changed. Can you elaborate on this a bit? I thought they stopped making this pedal back in the '90s. Have they introduced a new version of this pedal? Why did you decide to drop your old model that you've been using? When did the circuit change happen? And lastly, what is it in the circuit change that you dislike?

In the LOA 3 test submission for SOLO harmonica study it says Example 1.7, 1.8, 1.9, 2.3 or 2.4. Are we submitting any one of these examples, or are you looking for 1.7-1.9 and 2.3 or 2.4? Thanks David!

Hi David,

I'm working on the Improvisation Study 1. I really enjoy the first excercise on AAA chorus form and trying to "comppose" as many licks as possible. One of those is:

4 +6 5 +5 4 2 (pause) 4 +6 5 +5 4

Basically this is a 2-bar lick repeated with slightly different ending -- 4 2 in the 2nd bar and just 4 in the 4h bar.

If I play this lick(s) in all three rows of a 12-bar blues, which chorus form is it? AAA with one 4-bar lick repeated three times? AAA with two variations of a 2-bar lick repeated six times? Anything else?

Thanks, continue reading...

Hi David,I came across a problem when studying the 12 bar blues progression. So ususally,  the 12 bar blues structure goes by the below patten.

The first 4 bars just use the I chord - I, I, I, I.

The middle 4 bars go IV, IV, I, I. continue reading...

Hello David, I want to start playing on harmonica, I have read on a few forums, that Golden Melody C is good harmonica for the begginers and I buyed it, but on "Blues Harmonica Fundamentals" video you recommended to buy Hohner Special 20 A.

I will be glad to know is it okay to start learning playing harmonica on Golden Melody C?

Brgds

FILILIN

Hi David, is there any help in how to read the sheet music, particularly the chords?

Many thanks,

Kevin Tarrant.

Info@kerrygems.com

Resolved thanks

David Hi   I have had a problem with uploading the completed LOA6 files for your assesment. To overcome the issue I have had to split the upload into two. The first was the pdf (3) and the study song MP3 file  (1) and the second was the MP3 Exercises file (1). Hope this is OK. Please let me know if I need to do anything differently

Hi David!  I’ve enjoyed watching ur interviews with all those great harmonica players.

I noticed you almost always ask the interviewee about tongue blocking, how often they use it,

do they pucker holes 1,2 and 3 and do they tongue block the rest?  When u say that, are you referring

to playing holes above 3 out of right side of their mouths and blocking to the left?  Have you found 

that puckering the bottom 3 holes to be the norm for most players and that’s why you ask that question? continue reading...

Sorry, Dave, but I'm confused as to how to tackle Level 1.  I first bought a C Harmonica, before I found your course, so I did the C Harmonica Intro Lesson, and while I'm pretty rusty doing the 5th and 6th choruses of Walk With Me, I'm OK with the rest, just need practice.  I bought an A Harmonica, and did the Blues Fundamentals Lesson.  Do I do the remaining Level 1 lessons in succession, or dabble in them at the same time?  Any advice would be very helpful.  Thanks.