Ask Instructor David Barrett

Hello David;

First of all I want to congratulate you on this website, I am really enjoying it. 

My question for you is the follwowing:

I am finishing level one, in one week I ll have ¨walk with me¨ nailed down.

Now, I am very curious about Chromatic harmonica so I was thinking in getting one and fast forward to Level 3 to get a taste of Chromatic and then go back to Diatonic in level 2.

Is it advisable to do this?

Thanks

Hi David, I have just bought a laney Cub 10 and I set it up as per your review with a shure green bullet (tone 2, Vol 5.9 and gain 3.5). Soon as I touched my mic I got some serious feedback.

I had my boss rv6 hooked up as well so I turned that off, but was still getting feedback. I now have it set on Vol 4 gain 2 and tone 2 and a bit. I was also plugged into low output.

I was wondering if you had any idea why the amp would be giving feedback with the same settings as you had?  continue reading...

Hi David,

Two things I miss a lot.

Tip of the Day...

Monthly Davids Corner...

Any chance you can reinstate these interactive aspects?

John

Hi David,

reading the pdf file "Notation Key", it is stated that the "Lift" is:

Similar to a Pull, with no articulation. Tongue releases after a tongue block tosound the chord in the embouchure. Can be used in place of any Pull if asofter sound is desired.

Looking at the videos (Tongue blocking study #3 on Pulls and Lessons with Ryan Walker, Gary's Blues song) I had the impression that the pull has to be done at a reduced volume relative to the other notes. So, in general, I thought that the pull should be softer than the lift. continue reading...

Hello. My name is Paul. I was presented Marine Band C Harmonica and I'm totally new at playing this. In "Lessons by level" section I started from Prep study Blues Harmonica Fundamentals. There is a phrase that in order to accomplish the study I need A Harmonica. It confused me. Does it mean that I'm not able to learn this Prep study with my C version? (Same question I'd like to direct to any other studies or lessons mentioned A Harmonica) continue reading...

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.