Ask Instructor David Barrett

Dear Teacher

I recently bought the Fender SuperChamp X2. I am very satisfied with your recommendation. I use a shure 520dx mic and I think I should change for a better microphone. I watched all the videos in the equipment section. I can not decide. I'm looking for this clear sound that looks a bit like a saxophone. JT-30, crystal, CM etc .... I do not know! What is your new recomendation?

Thank You

David,

First, I want to say how impressed I am with your course.  I've been "picking through" lessons for a couple of weeks...sometimes 3-4 hours a day and have found so much good teaching...practical, challenging...and maybe most importantly, geared toward eventually getting out there and playing gigs, jam sessions, or recordings...For someone who has been playing and practicing obsessively for 8 months, you have a lot to offer and it's very well laid out. continue reading...

Im overcoming many challenges to learn this instrument...still 100% committted.  

One that I dont pay enough attention to is breating.  In fact, I would say that my corrrent stuggles to play the songs completly without stopping is most costrained by breating more than TB technique. continue reading...

Im playing the Cotton lick ...not quite as well as you but not bad.

In the vid,  you seem to saying there are some tonuging choices for 1drw 2drw.  I Essentially pucker the one draw and then move right, cover the one home and draw the two hole.  I can do this but the two draw is not smooth.  Id like to do better.  Any other options or do i just need more work.

Gary

Hello there ! First of all id like to say that i apprecieting this site so much even when i am little bit confused about it. The main thing id like to know is that whats the difference between classic lessons and LoA, its okey that i ve started with level of achievements and not lessons ? Ps i am not realy beginer but i came here to get better. Thank you so much for answer and have a good day.

How does one decide/ know when certain articulations ( "Ka " , " Eww<- ?" 

"  Ga ", and any other ones......) to use under which  circumstances ?

Any basic ' rules-of-thumb ' ?

                 Thank you for your time

                                  Steven Barta

Hi David,

I'm excited to dig into the Portnoy artist study. I really like his work on Clapton's From the Cradle and Me and Mr. Johnson albums. Are there any other recordings that you would consider essential Portnoy listening?

Hi David,

From a chord progression can you find out the key that a particular song is in, or is it a case of working through your harmonicas to see which root note fit. I am currently trying to learn Baby scratch my back - Slim Harpo - so that I can use his licks in my improvisation. I hace used Chordify to review the chord progression but am not understanding how the progression works. Please can you or anybody help.

Thank you

Paul

I have very small hands, and am having a difficult time trying to hold the harmonica as shown in the Level One video, and the Hob Bosold video.  Before finding your site, I had developed the ability to single note and bend quite well using the "pucker" method and now I am going back and trying to learn tougue blocking.  I had also developed a personal style of holding the harmonica which gave me an air tight chamber and a good wa wa, but it is not suited for holding the bullet microphone and I am wanting to get to amplification at some point. continue reading...

Im at the stage when I'm trying to learn bending and like most students I'm finding it pretty challenging. So to keep my interest up I'm trying to learn other music as I'm learning to bend. My problem is finding it.Most sites on the Internet for harmonica tabs don't cater for the music I'm looking for.  I managed to find long train running on the Internet which I can now play, but looking for other songs that have harmonica solos is more difficult. continue reading...