Ask Instructor David Barrett

Hello Dave,  I am studying The Big One, LOA#7.  Great song, esp with the switch to the diatonic.  Problem: 4th chorus , bar 10, I always end up one note behind.  I can play bar 8, however, in bar 9, you are on the one draw and I am on the 3 draw.  What am I missing?  Mic

Hi David,

Do you require just one verse of each of the above to the backing track Used To Be My Baby?

cheers

Greg

Hi,

I'm working on blow bending.

1) Are there any study songs for 2nd or 3rd position that use this outside of the overbend series?

2) Any more tips for getting the 10 bend? I have almost full control on 8 and 9, but when it comes to 10... I can bend it down some of the time (e.g. Blowin' The Blues chorus 5) but I can't start in the bend (chorus 6) or dip it. continue reading...

Dear teacher

question 1 ( lesson section )

in Exercise 6.2, it is written (Notated below is our Eb Alto Saxophone song example from Music Theory Study 1). I see only one flat in the left margin. I deduce that this is for F and not for Eb. in the answer section, the first scale degree is F. I am a little confused about Eb in the description of the exercise.

Question 2 ( LOA section ) 

in exercise 6.3  I just want to know if I need to transpose the song to G major or Mixolydian? I think its Mixolydian

thank you

Hi David,

I'm currently working on L.O.A.6 Accompaniment Playing Study 6 Horn Lines & Organ Padding, Section 2 Long Tones/Organ Padding Example 2.1.

I understand that the 2draw 5draw octave is the Root & Flat 7th of the I Chord, likewise the 2blow and 5blow octave is the 3rd of the IV Chord as you mention. You then go on to say that the 1blow and 4blow octave is the flat 7th of the V Chord. Apologies I don't understand that? 1blow 4 blow is a C octave which is surely the root note of the IV Chord. I'm assuming all is relevant to 2nd position, key of G mix. continue reading...

Dave when I try to practice this lesson the pages are all blank ?? Any thoughts? I will try to log out and come back in ??? Thanks   Mike

Hi David, is doing a lip purse shake using jaw shift

a good strategy? Feels like it gives me better

control.

Thanks Ga

Morning David,

I'm currently studying L.O.A.6 and in particular the Solo Harmonica Ex 2.3 Rhumba beat.

Bar 6 has a number of octaves played and I would like to ask the best way to play these. I've played them as an individual slap which at speed (my speed anyway!) sounds quite staccato and doesn't sound in keeping with the rhythm. When listening to you it sounds like you smooth them together a bit more so would it be ok to keep the octave emboucher but slide from one to the other?

  continue reading...

In this study we are using an A Harp and the musical notes on the scale on ex 1.1 measure 1 are A, Ab, A  measure 3  D, Db, D, etc. My question is if I am using an A harp and I draw hole 6 for measure one - that would be an F# note on the harp. In measure 3 if I draw hole 4 the note would be a B, yet the musical note shown is D. What am I missing?

Hi,

My name Olivier, a new and exited student.

I was wondering, while I was playing my major scale to practice my tongue blocking , I had difficulty not blowing in the next hole to the right of the one I was blowing in. For exemple, the blade of my tongue covered 1,2 and 3 while I was aiming in 4 but then the fifth was making sound too. So I had the Idea of blocking it with my right thumb which works like a charm. Would it be a bad habit if I kept using it ? I couldn't find anything about it on the web so that's why I'm asking. continue reading...