Ask Instructor David Barrett

I purchased a Hohner Special 20 and signed up for your 30 day trial.  I can already tell I am going to enjoy playing harmonica and plan on signing up on your site for continued lessons. continue reading...

why is b dylan not listed? is he not considered good?

Hi David

I am looking for a notation software that I can use for harmonica as well as instruments like fiddle and guitar. 

Ive seen your previous comments that you use Finale. Is that still what you are using? I've been looking at Finale Print Music which is a more limited and less expensive version. But looks like plenty full featured for my needs. 

I don't see harmonic listed in the instrument list. Is this something included in the full Finale product or did you have to make a custom template?

Best,

Andrew

ive been a member for just over five weeks and it's the first time I've ever done tongue blocking, the two problems I have is excess saliva which is hampering my improvement and on the draw notes sometimes I find that when I try to draw on a note I get no note at all, it feels like the harmonica is sticking to my lips and I have a suction with no note sounding, any suggestions thanks Dave

David, I am new to the site and have navigated around a little. My ultimate goal is to go through the LOA program. My question is after I have watched the Welcome video and some of the basics, do I click on LOA and follow that through or do I click on lessons or is it a combination of both areas. This is confusing for me. Also just as a suggestion, I would really like to see any area or item that I have clicked on and watched to be grey or a different color showing that I have already been to this item. continue reading...

Hi,

In Temperature, Chorus 3 Bar 9;  3D slap, 3D slap, 2D, 1D. Do you switch tongue or just slide off? Same with Bar 10?

Thnx

Geoffrey 

I am a beginner harmonica player, who might have taken on a challenge to big for me. In about a months time I am going to preforme the Beatles song "Love me Do" an a C harmonica, and I was just wondering if you have some tips and tricks for me. Mabye you know what I should focus on in the short time I have. 

Thank You :)

David,

One of the great things about harmonica is that we only have to learn a song in one key to be able to play it in all keys.  Yet when if comes to bendng on harps in different keys, there are some subtle changes of embouchure required to be in tune. Is any of this fine tuing supposed to be done by using our ears, or should it be our goal to practice every song in multiple keys so we can mechanically hit each bend accurately?  

Thanks,

Dan

Look, I understand that in hole 5 you got an E blow and an F draw and there is no note in between. I just don't get why you can't physically draw bend hole 5 to an E. What makes it physically impossible? I don't even inderstand why all holes don't bend the same amount. Just because hole 2 has 2 notes between the blow and draw reeds, what is alllowing the reed to bend more than most other holes? I don't get the physics behind it. How does the reed know that we don't need to bend up to the blow hole? It's really strange to me.

Dear teacher

After I ascending a pattern, I can reverse the sequence or just move back for descending.

Which one is the best?