Ask Instructor David Barrett

Hello David

I am totaly new to the harmonica. I purchased a hohner chromatic c 270/48 (as recommended by the seller). I am trying to follow the introduction lesson to c. However, I figured out that the numbering on the notes are not correct for my harmonica. Do you have a transformation table which I can readily use?

Thanks, Ya

Dave I have an Apple computer and I let it do some upgrades and when I try to play my lessons it says sever failure or format change . Any Ideas ?? Your site looks and loods different but it always played until now. I will do some research on my end . Thank you 

Working through Feeling the Blues with bends etc.  Bends are coming along well.  Breathing is still an obstacle to real substantial progress but daily 45-hour practice is moving me ahead.

I have by-passed Shakes as I figured I could add that technique later.  Its now later. continue reading...

What would be a good example of LW tongue block switching?

Hi David, you start ex. 2.4-2.6 with 3 blow, but when using slaps doesn't this give the wrong chord? Wouldn't it be better to use 2 draw with slaps?

regards

Hannes

Hi David:

How many BPM is the "walk with Me" sond in lesson one. I can not seem to get it right with my metronome. I need the non-slow version please.

thanks

jim

Hello David,

As you know i just started on Level 3 in the LOA program.   continue reading...

Hi David,

I'm practising Walk With Me and working towards Level 1.  After much practice and thinking I wasn't sounding too bad, I thought I would record myself and have listen. Oh...

Anyhow, one thing I noticed is when I move between some notes, I arrive at the next note a bit late.

It feels like my mouth gets to the next hole in time but my tongue is trailing behind, it's mainly when moving to a lower hole. continue reading...

hello! I just bought my C tunne harmonica and saw its needed the A to do the lessons. Can I do it with my harmonica? Thanks

Good afternoon David.   I'm looking for some motivation!!!   When you play Half Steppin, do you REALLY tongue block the entire song?   i.e. particularly the 3 draw whole step and a half, and the 2 draw whole step?   I can get to the half step bends on 2 and 3 and 4 and 5 but can't seem to get CLEAR bends, surely can't flutter or vibrato, the 3 whole and 3 whole and a half, and 2 whole.  Should I just pucker those?   Your notes come out so very clean and strong... is it just more and more practice?  Thanks