Ask Instructor David Barrett

Hello,   continue reading...

I'm working on LOA 3 and am making significant progress on my bending technique with the help of harpninja.  The biggest challenge seems to be with draw 3 half-step bend, which is frustrating since it's in the first measure of "Temperature."  Any further tips???  Thanks.

I can play the first page of "Walk With Me"!

I think I am hooked.

When reading the music, is it bad that I am paying a whole lot more attention to the numbers rather than the notes?

Background: I have been playing by blocking holes 2 upwards with my tongue to the left and hole 1 with my tongue to the right.

However it seems that in order to play the 2/1 draw in the first bar I need to block with my tongue to the right. Have I understood this correctly?

If I have understood correctly does this mean that the next 3 notes (2+ 3+ 2+) in the first bar would also preferably be blocked with my tongue to the right.

I can’t see any references to the preference for which side to block on. Have I missed something? I would appreciate your comments. continue reading...

Dear teacher

I have start my first improvising lesson 4 and I have a lot of fun. From lesson 1 to this point, each time I learn a song, I count in my head and I use my foot. I play 2-3 notes count 3 beats play another note count an half beat. I really want to copy the song. But !! when you improvise, do you count when you fill the form? It is more intuitive ? 

Thank you

The first lesson starts with a requirement of "A" harmonica, and i am having a "C" one. Kindly help, as i am confused what do i do!

Hello,

what would you recommend for a LOAL3 player to play at the first appearance in front of other harmonica players? Should I learn a famous instrumental or should I play a study song. 

Thank you,

Jernej

Using PC I right click study song mp3 file and select "save as" I then save it as mp3 to my desktop. I open itunes and then open my study song file on itunes. I grab the mp3 study song from desktop and drag and drop in study song file. It appears there and will play. However, if I delete the song from the desktop (can't have every song remain on the desktop once it is moved to itunes), so if I delete the song from the desktop and then go back to itunes and hit play I get error that says: "The song walk with me 30 percent slow could not be used because the original file could not be found. continue reading...

Hi David, hello from Colombia, i bought an hohner marine band, i want to ask you how many time spend in each lesson, i mean, i have to be really good in lesson 1 before start lesson 2?.

Thank you, i love your metho.

Camilo Ardila

Hi David. I am completely new to tongue blocking so please forgive my ignorance. I noticed in your video in Blues Harmonica Fundamentals: Playing Single Notes (Tongue Blocking), there is a close up clip where you show your tongue pushed up against the Tongue Block Trainer, blocking the first three holes. Although you say to only use a light touch with the tongue, the flesh of your tongue appears to protrude through the holes a little. continue reading...