Ask Instructor David Barrett

Hi David, 

I have one question for you. You advise your students to practice with an A harmonica, and yet I see that on scores, notes are named like on a C harmonica (hole one C and D, hole two E and G, etc.), which makes me think that I can use my C harmonica (I have just one harmonica, because I intend to learn all bent notes, overdraws and overblows so I can play any score with one instrument). 

I thank you. 

Raphaël Dalla-Costa 

Hello David, straight to the point....my A harmonica after 3 years of practice is like an old friend and plays to the best of my abilities.

My well setup D harp makes me sound like its day one all over. I can find the bends but only statically, and to play it is just horrible and my F harp remains untouched just sitting there feeling safe that it wont get played maybe ever. continue reading...

Hi David, 

I was going to purchase first mic and amp, something for in-home use and to get started with. Based on info from watching the FAQ on this topic, I was going to look at getting Shure 520 DX Green Bullet Mic and Fender Super Champ XD Amp. Is that material still current and good entry point equipment for my use?

You also mention about Effects in that FAQ topic. Is that something necessary to add at the same time, or for something down the road (I'm a super novice when it comes to equipment).

Thank you.

Peter

I noticed that the songs on the site are written for the c harp which makes sense because if the key of the song changes and you follow it with the corresponding harp in second position you would be playing in the correct key for the song (if im not wrong).

I wanted to start incoperating some sight reading practice everyday into my practice schedule (maybe at level 6 becasue I have already planned way too much stuff for level 5). I was hoping you had some advice on this topic or the best way to go about this. thank you.

Just curious about Solo Study 3 exercises.  How hard, if at all, should I be trying to slap the bent notes in 2.1 for example?  I'm assuming I should be slapping all the other single notes.

Thanks,

Jules

Hi David , 

I asked this question a while back about moving my head while playing . You advised me not to pay to much attention to it. I am the sort of person who fixates when something isn't right. I haven't played for a while because of this. Please could I send a video ? For a solution. 

Best Wishes 

Tony Taylor

Hi David , 

I asked this question a while back about moving my head while playing . You advised me not to pay to much attention to it. I am the sort of person who fixates when something isn't right. I haven't played for a while because of this. Please could I send a video ? For a solution. 

Best Wishes 

Tony Taylor

I can only play one measure and then I'm out of breath because it's almost all draw notes. What do I do?

What would be the best lesson to look at to explain how to articulate a note  rapidly while tongue blocking?

I'm on Bending Study 2, and bending on the A harmonica is coming along pretty well, but my C harmonica is proving a challenge, especially up at the 6 draw.  I'm getting a bend, but it usually stalls out.  But that's not really an issue, practice is making progress. continue reading...