Ask Instructor David Barrett

David Hi

I am working on and enjoying Music Theory Study 3.  Section 2 questions Ex 2.5, #3. When I checked my answers re the 5th of the IV with those provided on pg 22 I see that I had included TABs 1+, 4+, and 7+ whereas the answers on pg 22 did not have TAB 1+. Is this because it is “upstream” or to the left of 2”, F the Root note or some other reason. Given with playing Arpeggio the notes just need to be of the cord but not strictly in order I would have thought 1+ was an option?  Appreciate you clarifying for me.

Hi David,

Is there a backing track you can suggest for Little Walter's "Toddle"?

Thanks.

I"m a little confused about the term position.  When you are playing a piece in C and using the A harmonica it is in 2nd positon (5th down). I was listening to stiches in Bbminor and played in 12th position using an Ab harmonica.  How do you decide what is the best position to use when playing a composition?

Hi David,

I'm learning The Strut (level 4) and my intonation of 3" in the 5th measure of the 4th chorus is still quite erratic. Sometimes I get it well, sometimes really bad. Otherwise I can play this lick quite OK. Should I wait and practice this particular note untill it's perfect, or should I continue with the song and practice this part while learning next licks? continue reading...

quick questions about the assignment for lvl 3.

So do we just pick a single exercise to submit?  (Not sure if the 'or' at the end of the sentence references the entire sentence or just the last two items)

Also, can you clarify the accompaniment assignment?  6 full choruses (one for each hole), but it's not like we can stay on one hole for an entire chorus, so the wording confuses me.

What a great interview! So valuable to have all that history: thanks for capturing it. 

Hi Dave

i am having trouble bending hole 5 on the D harmonica for the song in verse 6 "the strut". i can get all the bends on 1-4 and 6.

Please assist.

Hi! R there any begginer level lessons for C Harmonica? I checked most begginer lessons are for A harmonica. Please do let me know! Thank you!

Hi David,

The lowest pitch on a given harmonica is the 1 blow, in that particular harmonicas major scale's first note.  What are the lowest to the highest pitch of harmonicas (in order from A to G)?  I am getting confused thinking that Do, Re, Mi is low to high and thinking that A is Do, Re is B, etc., so A should be lower than G.  Thanks for any help with my understanding of this.

Dean  

Dave - Regarding bending. Im better at it if I just use the pucker technique without tongue blocking. My understanding is that many harmonica players use a combination of tongue blocking and the pucker technique particularly when it comes to bending. I also can visualize the bend better if the tip of the tongue comes off the harmonica and is drawn back with the tip remaining down below the bottom teeth. continue reading...