Ask Instructor David Barrett

Sir , for single notes , do we always need to tongue block or can we deviate to puckering method , keeping our mouth and body relaxed ?

I know it would sound stupid because you have been stressing on togue blocking from first intro lesson itself , still bringing up this topic . Would really like what you recommend , because I am totally new to tongue blocking and it is really hard for me to get good tone and tremolo while trying to do the tongue block.

Please reply.

Sir , I am able to bend notes on 4th and 1st hole right from the beginning itself , but which should we try while doing it? The tongue block technique makes it pretty hard to bend notes as the tongue gives a large space for only the single original clean note. Please reply .

Hi David

I wonder if there is a place at the internet where I could find 'original' jam tracks for harmonica; with this I mean; the original full sound track of a harmonica song where only the harmonica sound is left out while all other instruments and possibly the voices are still in? If so, to my opinion this would provide an ideal way of learning songs from great players

Or would you know if there may exist a tool or app (free or payable) by means of which I could take a full sound track of a song and delete the harmonica sound from it....? continue reading...

Hi David, continue reading...

Hi 

With all this tons of material and other great stuff on Bluesharmonica is there a search function? I have been loking around and havent found any

Regards

Michael 

Hi David, 

I was interacting with an old friend on Facebook who has kept his music up all the years since High School.  He plays woodwinds (fairly accomplished amateur of sax, clarinet and fluit) like I once did.  I mentioned Im working hard to be a musician again and focused on Blues Harp.  He said "Oh I tried that too as it looked easy to pick up, but I gave up as it was way too hard." [insert laughter]

My question is this.  He said "are you sitting in on Jams?"  I said no I dont think Im ready.  He said forget it...jump in. continue reading...

Hi david,

When listening to my recordings I've found that I have a small tendency to be late coming in on notes, particularly low ones.  My sense of rhythm is just fine, and I know when I'm supposed to be coming in while I'm playing it.  I'm thinking this may have to do with the actual attack of the instrument.  I'm used to playing instruments where this just isn't a concern - push a key, pluck a string, bang a drum, etc.  Do you ever deliberately come in a split split split second early to allow the sound to develop and land on time?

  continue reading...

In the tune "The Strut" on the last half beat of measure 10 of the first chorus.  (I'm not counting the four measures of the intro).  Does it call for a tongue switch or quickly sliding the harmonica side to side.

Thanks

Ive passed this subject by somehow but Im getting to the point on Scales where I find myself absent the skill.  Where in the lesson mater do I get the into to Blow Bends...cant find it?

Gary

Ive passed this subject by somehow but Im getting to the point on Scales where I find myself absent the skill.  Where in the lesson mater do I get the into to Blow Bends...cant find it?

Gary