Ask Instructor David Barrett

Hey David,

I remember seeing something on the sith about playing over the Stormy Monday changes. That would come in handy right now but I can't find it.  How can I access it?

Thanks,

Tom

David Hi. Im working on study song The Split (really enjoying it) but wanted assurance that a draw pull rather than  a blow pull was not only acceptable to you but did not negatively change the tune. I am referring to chorus 1,2,7,8 measures 3 and 6. Also changing the draw pull to a blow pull in chorus 3 measures 5 and 6.  Whilst I can manage these last two measures I find the blow less of a tongue twister if I stick to blow pulls. continue reading...

Hi, i've seen your startup video for beginners and you said that all lessons was only for the "A" harmonica. I only got an "C" one and im just wondering if there is any other beginner lessons for "C" or what should i do?

Im new to instruments so I don't know sh*t. I Hope you understand my english.

Regards - Mikael

Good afternoon sir,

I am brand new at learning the harmonica, but have been spending some time practicing puckering for a single note rather than tongue blocking. I was hoping to see which is more perferred and why? I know this may be a really basic question, but all the lessons that I tried finding seem to be split on the two.

Thank you for your time

Very Respectfully,

Travis

Hi Dave,

I'm really struggling getting five-hole octaves right. Do you have any tips I might try beyond what is in the lesson videos?

I'm working with a tuner to try to determine when I've got the correct embouchure. With my F harp, I'll blow 7-10 to get the F, and then try to widen for the 6-10 draw and get the D, but I rarely get it clean if at all.

Like all new techniques, I'm sure I'll get it figured out eventually if I keep plugging away at it, but this is particularly frustrating because I can't really determine what I'm doing wrong.

Thank much.

This is my first time playing the harmonica. I dont know what the notes are or anything else about harmonicas. What do i do?

hi, may i please ask a help?

i was trying to play the ex 1.1, solo harmonica study 3, but i cant make the third note ( 4') sounds like it should.

do i need to slap it? 

do i start in the bend position or start in a normal 4 draw and then bend to 4'?

do i play it with the same breath of the previous note or i start a new breath?

i have tryed for a few days and i just cant make thar third note ( 4' ) as good as the video/files.

thanks!

bests regards,

ivan

David, I've noticed I play more precise when I hold harmonica with two hands.

Should I challenge myself to one-hand occasionally, or maybe it does not matter?

Been really trying to dig in and get my scales down in different positions.  Just curious why you include the minor and major 2nd's in the high end of the 2nd position blues scale.  Sounds good, I guess because you are borrowing from the V chord blues scale.  But they are available on the low end, and some are available in 1st and 3rd position scales, but aren't included there. continue reading...

Hello David;

 I am working on my L2 Study Song, specifcally the fisrt 2 choruses, and it occured to me that i might have missed in level 1, where you may have addressed the ideal approach to learning a study song. Would you recommend learning the entire song at 30%, then at 15%, then full speed, or learning each chorus at 30%, then 15%, then full speed, before moving on to the next chorus? And if the latter approach, THEN learning the entire song at 30%,15%, full speed? I realize either approach would work, but which would you consider ideal?

Thanks,

Greg