Ask Instructor David Barrett

Hello Mr. Barrett-

If a song features the 1, 4, and 5 chords of a certain key , but it's the 5 chord featured most prominently(specifically Not Fade Away by Buddy Holly, A,D, and E, but E is the staple) what key would you choose to play in? A Harp second position or D harp second position? Or none of the above?! Thanks in advance-Jesse Langford

Thank you for helping me.

I use Special 20s for my LOA lessons-- now on Level 4.

For Christmas I got a Crossover.

The Crossover seems to respond more readily than the Special 20 when I practice low volume playing and related dynamics.

I can afford the Crossover and will change to it for my LOA lessons if the Crossover will speed my learning and lead to more insights.

(Sometimes equipment type seems to make learning easier and sometimes its impact is zero to marginal.) continue reading...

I am brand new to harmonica & was advised to get a 'C' harmonica (now I see you need an A for the lessons-argh....Can I begin learning with my C harmonica as the 'free lessons' came with it?....(I also purchased a beginner harmonica book- would I be better off learning from that to start?) Thanks

I recently buy my first amp, mustang iv2. Its not an amplifier with tubes. I can ask the Gear section in the forum but I prefer my teacher opinion. Im not satisfy about my amp. Not able to obtain this particular sound you produce and I want. I have 2 questions about that.

1- the are a big difference between tubes amps and no tubes amps ?

2- can you suggest me my fisrt tubes amp with aux headphone jack for good price ? 

Im living in Canada and its very hard to find harp amp

Mr. Barrett,

I got the harp ninja app - nice tool.  With it I notice that every note I play shows up as being sharp.  Some as much as 25% of the way to the next note.  Is this an indication that I'm not holding my mouth right or breathing correctly or ...?  Any ideas?

Hi, Dave:

Not a big fan of Big Walter, but I recognize his importance in the tradition and I understand there's something to be learned. As I'm just starting out, I'd like to learn what I "should" from him. If you were Dr. Frankenstein and you were building the perfect blues harmonica monster player, what songs of Big Walter would be the bare essentials (in this analogy, what limbs would you attach to the monster)?

I'm thinking "Easy" and "Walter's Boogie." Maybe your artist study, too, because that includes the best licks, right?

Hi David, Firstly I want to say that I really like your teaching style. You explain and show teqniques in such a way that as a student I sit and go " ah I finally got it", I also like the material you give us and the whole format of the LOA. But, and yes there is always a but.....I always used to pucker and TB was a mystery to me and an unachievable one at that, although I have tried in the past to delve in to it failing every time. With your lessons and teaching technique I am getting there and I am enjoying the experience. continue reading...

Dear Teacher

I have start learning Vibrato. After 2 weeks of very hard work I realize this exercise is very challenging for me and I love it. I failed my first "Final Playing Example" because I make ya-ya type vibrato. Well ! I return to videos and listen carefully. You said we need to have a strong tremolo. When I try to POP my throat very hard, my diaphragm bounce a little. its is correct? 

I try to relax my tongue but I have sum problems do to this because I think I have to contract the end of the tongue to cover left holes ( tongue blocker ) continue reading...

HI David and Everyone,

I starting playing harmonica about 2 years ago and have primarily been learning to play using the LOA program and tongue blocking technique and I have become most comfortable playing using tongue blocking.

I've also recently gotten into Paul Butterfield and his style of playing.  As I understand it, Butterfield was primarily a pucker player. continue reading...

Hello David I am currently working on level 4 stuff.  I also started looking at Rollin Rhumba v1 in third postion.  I am just curious about the 1,4,5 chords for third postion.  I worked it out I think?? I just want to see if I am way out to lunch.  so on a C harmonica in thirds postion are these correct?

1-D,F#,A  holes 1,4,8 /2",5,9/ 3",6,10

4-G,B,D    holes 2,3+,6+,9+/ 3,7,/ 1,4,8

5-A,C#,E   holes 3",6,10/ 1,4,7,10/ 2+,5+8+

Thank you  

David Saccucci